Smart connectivity. How data streaming is transforming the automotive industry

Smart connectivity is a concept that sees the car as being a fully connected, intelligent part of a digital ecosystem. In practice, this means that it collects, analyses and transmits data to the cloud, to other vehicles (V2V), to the roads infrastructure (V2I) and directly to the manufacturer or service provider. The data comes from sensors, cameras, radars and in-car systems and streaming them facilitates almost instant decision-making, which is vital to the development of autonomous functions and predicting a user’s needs.

The vehicles of today operate like mobile computer platforms, generating vast quantities of data. The connections are not only external, but also encompass a complex internal network. This evolution has made it imperative to shift from simple connections between control units to advanced communication architecture with a data transmission capability of up to 12 Gbps.

Estimates suggest that more than 90% of vehicles will be connected to a network by 2030. This is both a new quality for users and a powerful support for the development of smart cities with more effective public transport and communication infrastructures.

The continuous, real-time transmission of data means that manufacturers are able operate remotely to update software, diagnose faults, monitor the driver’s style of driving and optimise energy consumption in electric vehicles. Data streaming is therefore becoming a crucial part of every digitalisation strategy in the automotive sector.

Data from vehicles should be archived, encrypted and analysed in terms of security incidents. Data streaming speeds up the identification of potential threats and facilitates a real-time response. The increased quantities of data being generated make information security one of the most important aspects of autonomous vehicle design.

Key challenges here include ensuring that data connections are reliable and resilient, even under severe in-vehicle environmental conditions like vibration, extreme temperatures or electromagnetic interference. This demands solutions that provide error-free data reception from trusted sources and meet rigorous requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

At MakoLab, we understand that data security in a smart connectivity environment is more than just a regulatory requirement. It is also a crucial aspect of building trust in the latest technologies. For years now, our teams of experts have been supporting the automotive industry in designing and deploying safe digital solutions, from data encryption and archiving, via compliance with the GDPR and ISO, to real-time protection against cyber threats.

We leverage our experience in working with OEMs and our IT system integrators to help create system architecture that not complies with the applicable standards, but also sets up new opportunities for predictive security, reliability and the development of autonomous vehicles. The future of the automotive industry is rooted in data.

Smart connectivity provides a path to completely new, flexible business models, ranging from pay-as-you-drive insurance, via predictive maintenance, to integrated infotainment systems and personalised user experience.

With the development of in-car systems and integrated digital services, manufacturers are transforming themselves into innovative technology companies. Connected cars are becoming a part of advanced service platforms and data is a new value source. This is all a clear signal that the future of the automotive industry lies in digital transformation, which is building a bridge between technology and people.

Smart connectivity solutions are a natural gateway to the use of technologies like AI, blockchain and edge computing. Integrating them facilitates the creation of autonomous vehicles and hazard warning systems, not to mention intelligent traffic and urban management mechanisms.

Modern cars use a mobile computing centre function with growing frequency. They can both analyse traffic situations and make decisions in real time. To do so, they require advanced communication architectures, including Automotive Ethernet, with the capacity to support multi-gigabit data rates. Capabilities like these are shaping the future of the automotive industry, making it safer, more automated and more sustainable.

Digital transformation is also having an impact on the development of relationships with technology partners. Vehicle manufacturers are collaborating more and more often with IT companies, system integrators and vendors providing cloud-based solutions. This makes it possible to create flexible, scalable, secure ecosystems that support end-to-end deployments and boost competitive advantage.

Thanks to data streaming and smart connectivity, drivers and passengers are experiencing an entirely new level of personalised interaction with their vehicles. Infotainment systems adapt to their preferences, suggesting routes, music and local services in real time.

Smart connectivity and data streaming are more than simply the building blocks of digital transformation. They are also the strategic pillars upon which the future of the automotive industry is being constructed. This direction of development encompasses vehicle manufacturers and an entire ecosystem, from supplies, via fleet operators, to end users. Nowadays, investment in innovation and cutting-edge technology is not so much as luxury as a necessity, a condition for competitiveness in a dynamically changing world.

Translated from the Polish by Caryl Swift