Automotive manufacturers are capable of waffle at a level that would make the average technology salesperson blush. Lexus' announcement of its LF-S Concept Car, currently being exhibited at motor shows across the globe, kicks off with this flowery statement: -The concept vehicle seeks to provide a peak experience that fills the driver with exhilaration and provides comfort in every moment, while understanding and anticipating each individual user's constantly changing needs."
While the description may be a little over the top, the central notion Ã,ÂÂââ,¬" cars that can adapt to the habits of their drivers, rather than the other way around ââ,¬" is now one of the key driving forces for the global automotive industry. To achieve that goal, utilising on-board computing power is a central requirement.
Concept cars ââ,¬" a key element of both research and marketing for automotive manufacturers ââ,¬" are one of the most obvious manifestations of this trend. While the LF-S doesn't make heavy weather of its processing power, other concept cars give it much greater emphasis.
Volvo's Your Concept Car platform, developed solely by women (itself a first in the macho world of motoring), includes an on-board computer to assist in parallel parking (as well as plane-style luggage compartments for storing notebooks). The Technological Concept car, co-developed by Motorola, Pininfarina, and Maserati, makes much play of its networking abilities, with promotional material boasting: -The car itself becomes an intelligent moving network, able to interact with its passengers and keep them constantly and seamlessly connected to all the aspects of their lives".
Lurking even closer to the hotly-contested border between futuristic and completely whacked out, design house Rinspeed has exhibited the Senso. This concept car includes technology which measures biometric information about the driver and adjusts the car environment to suit, using specially developed sound samples and even scent injection into the car environment.
Paying attention to the needs of the driver often takes second place to amusing the passengers in concept car designs. IBM's Imaj system boasts three 12-inch LCD screens in the back seat to keep passengers informed or entertained. Developing navigation systems for such devices is often promoted as a potential path to riches for curious developers, although the first such systems to emerge haven't shown much in the way of customisation or after-market add-on options.
At a more pragmatic level, computer control systems are also expected to play a critical role in developing more energy efficient cars. Locally, for example, Holden is working in conjunction with the CSIRO to develop cars which make more use of electric power, and its Energy Management Computer will be an important component of that plan.
However, in-car computing power isn't restricted to such futuristic visions. Virtually any new car you purchase these days will boast some form of on-board PC, and all but the cheapest will even give you a glimpse of its workings in the form of in-dash displays.
Most of those systems are currently inaccessible to third-party developers, having being built in house. Car manufacturers are also obsessed with safety to an extent that often precludes interference with their carefully calibrated devices. However, in line with the IT market in general, vehicle manufacturers are increasingly moving towards a world where cars run on standard operating platforms which can be extended by others.
The potential rewards could eventually be enormous if growth rates in the broader embedded software development field are any guide. The market for embedded software tools will see a compound annual growth rate of 7.8 percent between now and 2008, according to Gartner. In that year, the value of embedded tools sold will top $US1.44 billion.
With the scent of money in the air, it's little wonder that Microsoft is hankering for a share. The software giant hosted a recent Global Automotive Summit at Ford's US headquarters in Detroit, and wheeled out Bill Gates himself to talk up the potential of technology in both manufacturing cars and in enhancing their use.
-The embrace of technology will be the key for the leaders of the industry," Gates commented, adding that a crash-proof car was the ultimate goal. Many observers couldn't resist noticing Microsoft hadn't yet achieved the crash-proof PCs, but such sniping didn't stop the company launching a project known as the Performance Peak Initiative to promote its automotive goals and attract new partners.
In any event, despite promoting the ability to move existing .NET skills into the world of motoring as a key advantage, Microsoft is going to have a fight on its hands wooing automotively-minded developers. Compared to other areas, embedded software in general (of which automotive represents one of the more visible manifestations) supports a wide range of platforms and tools and doesn't boast a dominant vendor.
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