The digital chassis is the future of automotive and chipmaker Qualcomm is well positioned to deliver it – TechCrunch

In September 1882, Thomas Edison flipped a switch inside his Pearl Street station, providing electricity to 3,000 incandescent bulbs in Lower Manhattan and sparking a revolution in interconnected technology. Almost a century and a half later, 5G is on the eve of a similar transformational moment, ushering in a new era in which everyone and everything will be connected, driving digital transformation of all industries, all four corners. of the world.

This digital transformation is on a scale like we’ve never seen before, and 5G is the key ingredient that powers it. Unlike previous Gs, 5G is the first generation of mobile technology designed to go beyond the smartphone. These are networks for all devices and industries, from computers and XR headsets to factories and farms.

No industry will be spared, including the automotive industry, which is already undergoing a digital transformation. Automakers are striving to phase out the internal combustion engine. They connect the car to other cars and to its surroundings. And to support this, they incorporate cutting-edge technologies, such as always-connected, high-performance and energy-efficient systems that completely transform the driving experience.

The future was presented to automotive executives, journalists and opinion leaders at this year’s IAA Mobility in Munich. Qualcomm Chairman and CEO Cristiano Amon gave a keynote address on the main stage, where he explained how 5G and advanced technologies will fuel change in the automotive industry.

Amon speaks of the vision of a Digital chassis when he talks about the suite of technologies and solutions that are designed in the automotive industry. Technologies that allow digital cockpit, stretching telematics capabilities, allowing the automaker to offer car-to-cloud services live after the point of sale, and puts us on the path to greater autonomy.

Think of the digital cockpit as the brain of the vehicle – the hub that drives cutting-edge entertainment experiences, new services and enhanced safety on a transformed driving journey. User-friendly interfaces control streaming content, digital personalization, and customizable settings, creating a fully personalized environment.

Telematics will go beyond road signs. When 5G is further integrated into the things around us, cars will begin to communicate with traffic lights, signs, pedestrians and cyclists, increasing both safety and fuel efficiency. The automobile will indeed be one of the many things that are part of the smart connected edge, working with the cloud and other devices to foster information exchange allowing artificial intelligence to adjust driving in time. real.

To date, for the majority of cars, once the car is taken off the lot, the sale is over. But once the car is connected, automakers can continue to provide subscription services such as roadside assistance, software updates, video streaming, upgrade or provide new features as needed. customer. Those car-to-cloud services will provide new sources of revenue for the automotive industry and improve the driver experience. In fact, we’ve heard from Mary Barra, CEO of GM, talk about this as a key growth opportunity for them in the years to come.

Finally, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are designed to increase driver safety while operating the vehicle. Solutions that scale from entry level, such as lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control and high beam safety system to fully autonomous driving.

Amon isn’t just talking about a digital chassis as a theory, but as something that is becoming a reality today. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon digital chassis is a one-stop-shop for the automotive industry. With the Snapdragon Digital Chassis, automakers have access to a comprehensive suite of technologies to create highly customizable, experiential and scalable connected and intelligent vehicles, redefining modern vehicles and consumer expectations.

Amon went so far as to note that “our approach to the Snapdragon digital chassis is really to replicate in the automotive industry what we have been doing in mobile for decades, which is to create a horizontal platform. and which builds robust and sustainable ecosystems “.

To further validate their commitment, Qualcomm and SSW Partners has just concluded a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Veoneer. This acquisition increases Qualcomm’s ability to create a cutting-edge, horizontal, open and competitive ADAS platform for the global automotive industry.

Although best known for mobile technology, Qualcomm is not a newcomer to the automotive industry. The company has worked with automakers since 2004, providing 3G and 4G chips for streaming and in-vehicle telematics, connecting cars to the cloud, and providing IT solutions for a wide range of vehicles. But the next decade will be even busier: It already has working relationships with 23 of the 26 major auto brands, with a $ 10 billion pipeline in place over 10 years.

If there aren’t already enough reasons for the auto industry to embrace its own digital transformation, environmental sustainability is another. Of course, electric vehicles are revolutionizing the road, minimizing fossil fuel emissions, increasing efficiency and helping to fight climate change. The movement of the electric vehicle is eco-responsible, technologically revolutionary and an economic driver. The digital chassis provides an energy efficient platform for the transition to electric vehicles. The integration of 5G has a similar promise, enabling smarter, safer, greener and more efficient transportation. As Qualcomm recently announced in its 5G sustainability report, “Optimized use of lane management systems and traffic management systems powered by C-V2x can save fuel up to 20%. The 5G connection is the way to a better future.