The Future of Driving: Automotive Software Trends Set to Revolutionize Your Ride
The main trend which is set to gain momentum over the next five years and radically transform the driving experience, is Software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Luxoft’s unique mix of automotive knowledge, automotive software solutions, and software development expertise places it in an ideal position to help automakers navigate the complexity of the software-defined future of automotive.
“In Serbia, we have strong teams who are working in the area of In-Vehicle Platforms, AD/ ADAS Functions, Software Factory, and System Test & Validation.
Full autonomy will be a game changer but it’s decades away. We can expect that autonomous features will be introduced over time. The possibilities this will create for people while traveling are huge — from working in the car to watching films and being entertained while stuck in traffic — the whole in-car experience will be revolutionized. Moreover, road safety will be massively improved, with the elimination of human error and constant communication between vehicles, roads will be safer than ever. However, achieving full autonomy presents a big challenge to automakers. Right now, the most advanced vehicles are on level 3, whereas full autonomy is on level 5 – progressing these 2 stages requires the ability to gather, transfer, and interpret unprecedented amounts of data. This entails challenges of processing power, connectivity capabilities, cybersecurity, and more. And all of this needs to be done in real-time! These are areas that traditionally wouldn’t have been in the remit of automakers – achieving the necessary technology transformation in-house is challenging.
John Makin, Global Strategy and Growth Director in Luxoft says that the automotive industry is a hotbed of innovation, with various technologies originally developed for vehicles finding applications in broader society. Even for non-drivers, these technologies have significant impacts on various aspects of everyday life. Here are some of the most significant examples:
“GPS and navigation systems: Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, which has become vital for modern navigation and location tracking, was honed and popularized through in-car navigation systems. Today, GPS is ubiquitous in smartphones, used not only for personal navigation but also for a multitude of apps that require location services.
Battery technology: Advances in battery technology, driven by the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, have led to more efficient and durable batteries. These batteries are now used in consumer electronics, power tools, and energy storage solutions for renewable energy systems.
Sensor technology: Vehicles are equipped with a multitude of sensors for parking assistance, collision avoidance, and more. This sensor technology is used in security systems, smart homes, and healthcare devices (like wearable monitors).
AI and machine learning: The push towards autonomous vehicles has seen significant investment in AI and machine learning, with applications that span far beyond driving—impacting healthcare, finance, and customer service sectors through enhanced predictive algorithms and automation.
Waste reduction and recycling: Automotive companies are increasingly focusing on sustainability, leading to innovations in recycling and waste reduction techniques that are applied across industries to improve environmental outcomes.
Remote diagnostics and telematics: The technology used for monitoring the health of a vehicle and providing real-time data to drivers and mechanics has been adapted for use in monitoring the structural integrity of buildings, the condition of industrial machinery, and even for tracking the health status of patients in medical facilities.
Connectivity: Cars are increasingly becoming connected devices, part of the Internet of Things (IoT). This push for vehicle connectivity dovetails with the broader trend toward smart, interconnected devices in our homes and cities.”
V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) elements, including vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and structures utilized for traffic management, such as traffic lights and road gantries, can have a significant impact on the automotive industry. Via the exchange of messages, V2I stations can share crucial information with each other such as collision warnings, road blockages, traffic light statuses, etc.
Bardyshev stresses that this real-time information will become increasingly important for future generations of autonomous vehicles (AVs) to optimize their plans and take appropriate actions based on their immediate surroundings. This increases safety and improves efficiency (which also aids environmental sustainability).
“Luxoft can help automakers capitalize on the possibilities that V2I offers and further develop ADAS capabilities.”
Luxoft works with 90% of automakers, including high-end sportscar makers and leaders in mass production. The highly innovative work that Luxoft does with many clients gives them an edge in the industry and helps deliver leading experiences to their customers.
Makin highlights one of the significantly important projects: “MBUX Hyperscreen – our UXD team was instrumental in the development of the market-leading Hyperscreen that will feature in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class.”
The rate of change in the automotive industry is accelerating like never before, Anton Bardyshev adds.
“Our expertise and partnerships with market leaders can help automakers navigate the disrupted value chains, shifting revenue pools and new product mix of hardware, software, data, and services.
Two of the main challenges automakers face are: Making the transformation from automakers who write software, to software companies that make cars. And taking more control of the software architecture by bringing more software in-house. This system-centric approach is leading to the need for software system integration skills — an area where Luxoft is investing and will be taking a leading role with our clients.
We’ve written a series of whitepapers on the future of automotive to help automakers stay ahead in the increasingly disrupted and competitive automotive industry. “
If you would like to learn more about this and next-generation vehicle software development in general, you can check the Luxoft website to find out more.
