Telematics

Technological Convergence

There is a greater trend in the field of technology and innovation—that of “convergence.” With increasing sophistication of microelectronics, the boundaries between distinct and separate electrical devices are being blurred. In the past, you would have a telephone for phone calls, a record or CD [Page 1323]player for music, a “wireless” for radio reception, and a television for moving pictures.

With digital electronics and file formats, there has been the emergence of devices that fulfill multiple needs. Mobile phones are able to play multiple types of media and act as entertainment devices; laptop computers are able to make phone calls using Voice Over IP (VoIP); and smart televisions are able to browse the Web. Computers, once used as machines of work, now fulfill entertainment functions.

Within information technology (IT), the types of devices used for work and communication are changing with the rise of mobile computing and the tablet. Within the vehicle, there is now the provision of entertainment, but also devices that allow work and communication while drivers and passengers are on the move.

With increasing complexity, these systems can now integrate with vehicle sensors and systems to provide communication between the vehicle and the wider world to provide enhancements to the driving experience.

Further, it is likely that the sophistication of in-car telematics is only going to increase and the degree to which vehicles can integrate with existing media and communication devices will follow a similar pattern. It is this increasing integration and the blurring of boundaries between devices that is the hallmark of technological convergence—and it is at this intersection of technologies that the potential for exciting developments in vehicle telematics is seen.

The Electrification of the Motor Vehicle

The ever-increasing integration of telematics technology into motor vehicles can be seen as part of a continuation of the trend toward increasing “electrification” of the vehicle. Since the very early days of the motor vehicle, the steady incursion of electrical technologies replacing mechanical devices has added ever greater degrees of sophistication and precision.

Early mechanical wipers were motorized; mechanical distributors have been replaced with electric ignition systems, and carburetors with electronic fuel injection. Even mechanical hydraulic power steering is being subsumed in favor of electrical alternatives in some vehicles. The development of hybrid vehicles—as a transition technology to future ultra-low-emission vehicles continues this trend.

Next-generation vehicle technologies based on electric power trains with battery and fuel cell energy storage will potentially eliminate many of the mechanical systems of the traditional motor vehicle in favor of electrical equivalents. With this trend toward increasing electrification, modern vehicles have a multitude of sensors collecting data about the vehicle condition, performing diagnostic functions, and sensing the vehicle's environment.

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