A connected car is a motor vehicle that can interact with other devices independent from the physical car itself bidirectionally, such as smartphones, using the local area network (LAN). Connected vehicles can share internet access and data with other devices, both inside and outside the car.
Companies are developing safety-critical applications to protect the internet-of-things (IoT) devices in connected cars, preventing them from being hacked. The safety applications are connected using dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) radios, a short-range wireless connection operating in the FCC-granted 5.9GHz band with low latency.
The first automaker to bring connected cars to the market was General Motors (GM), which introduced the OnStar platform in 1996 with application in the Cadillac DeVille, Seville, and Eldorado. Motorola Automotive and GM partnered to develop the OnStar functional feature with the primary function of providing emergency help to drivers with the press of a button, cutting out the process of routing calls to the correct dispatch unit, providing faster emergency responses.
Initially, OnStar worked only with voice activation. However, with the emergence of cellular data, OnStar connected with mobile devices to send out the incident’s exact GPS location. OnStar saw success, which resulted in other automakers releasing similar features that came with purchasing a new car in the form of a free trial with a paid subscription option when the trial period ended.
Advancements became frequent after the initial success. In 2001 remote vehicle diagnostics were introduced. In 2003, connected car services, including health reports, turn-by-turn directions, and network access devices were developed. In 2007, data-only telemetrics was made available.
In 2014, car manufacturer Audi was the first company to offer 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspots in its vehicles. However, the first large-scale deployment of 4G LTE equipped vehicles was executed by General Motors.
By 2017, a company called Stratio Automotive provided 10,000 vehicles with predictive intelligence, allowing fleet operators to remotely manage vehicle maintenance routines.
Connected cars can interact with multiple devices and other entirely independent vehicles within their near surroundings. For full functionality, the vehicles must be capable of interacting and communicating with other IoT devices. There are five connectivity types currently available on the market.
Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) is a connectivity type where internal technology collects data generated by the vehicle and relays it to the driver. The information collected by the car often relates to safety, mobility, and outdoor environmental conditions. Notifications might include speedometer information, lane departure, or potentially elevated risk for ice.
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) connectivity leverages wireless technology to communicate information from one vehicle to another regarding the speed and position of surrounding vehicles through a wireless exchange of information. The goal of this form of connectivity is to prevent accidents and create driver awareness of surroundings. Additionally, V2V connectivity can help ease the flow of traffic, benefiting the overall environment.
Vehicle-to-cloud (V2C) is responsible for performing exchanges between vehicle hardware and the cloud for and regarding applications connected to the vehicle, made possible by a cloud system. V2C allows vehicles to communicate and use information from other cloud-connected industries like energy, transportation, and other IoT related fields.
Vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) connectivity utilizes technology that connects the vehicle with the environmental surroundings through sensors. The sensors can communicate the information received to other vehicles, smartphones, and infrastructure. V2P allows cars to communicate with pedestrians and is used to promote safety on the roads.
Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) is where technology connects all types of vehicles and infrastructure systems. V2X connectivity includes highways, cars, ships, planes, and trains.
There are two applications for connected cars. The first application is the single-vehicle application, where in-car services and applications are implemented specifically for that vehicle with connection to a cloud or a backend. The second application is known as cooperative safety and efficiency applications that provide connectivity between various cars while working in a cross-brand and cross-border nature in line with specific regulations and standards.
Presently, vehicles often come equipped with embedded navigation systems, smartphone integrations, and media packages. The standard automobile (post-2010) has a head-unit or in-dash system with a screen that allows the drivers to control and manage in-car connections. The head-units can execute various tasks such as music/ audio playback, control smartphone apps, navigation applications, roadside assistance, voice control/ commands, engine diagnostics, and parking applications.
In June of 2014, the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) was formed and announced by Google and formed an international alliance between automotive makers looking to bring the android platform to vehicles. Companies that joined the initiative included Audi, GM, Google, Honda, and Nvidia.
In March of 2014, Apple announces its initiative called CarPlay, which focused on bringing an iOS supported platform to vehicles through iOS 7 and a lightning conductor.
In late-June of 2014, Android Auto was announced to connect Android smartphones to the vehicles' infotainment systems. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are embedded into most standard vehicle infotainment systems as of January 2021. Still, many drivers are frustrated with the automatic prioritization of CarPlay over Android Auto.
Connected cars have taken advantage of smartphone popularization to develop automobile and smartphone connectivity from any distance. Many automakers have developed brand-specific applications to allow car owners to control some aspects of their vehicles from wherever and whenever there is cell service. Drivers can remotely lock doors, start the car, run diagnostics, initiate panic mode, GPS locate, and more.
Cooperative safety and efficiency services are related to Advanced Driver-Assistant Systems (ADAS), which depend on the sensory input of more than one vehicle and enable an instantaneous reaction through automatic monitoring, alerting, braking, and steering. ADAS relies entirely on instant vehicle-to-vehicle communication and infrastructure that allows the systems to work across brands and international borders while still offering cross-brand and cross-border privacy and security levels.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) argued for regulation in its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on V2V communication and argued its case in the US Congress. Rulemaking by the NHTSA began on December 13, 2016, with its proposal to require dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) technology in new light vehicles. Under the proposition, vehicles would be equipped with technology to broadcast a specified data packet or a “basic safety message” (BSM) up to ten times every second to indicate vehicle location, heading, and speed. In March of 2017, GM became the first company to equip DSRC technology as baseline standard equipment in its Cadillac CTS.
The hardware necessary to make connected cars connected can be either built-in or brought-in connection systems.
Built-in systems, called telematics boxes, commonly have an Internet connection via GSM module and are integrated through the car’s IT system. Most connected car brands in the United States use the GSM operator AT&T with GSM SIM, like Volvo. However, some brands like Hyundai and its proprietary Blue Link system use the Verizon Wireless Enterprise, a non-GSM CDMA operator.
Brought-in systems are plugged in through the OBD reader port for electrification and access to the vehicle for information. There are two types of connection through the OBD.
- Hardware relying on the driver's smartphone for Internet connection.
- Hardware that establishes a proprietary Internet connection through a GSM module.
Connected cars are disrupting the insurance business with the data being generated. Insurance companies have developed devices that track speed, stopping habits, driving routes, drive time patterns, and more to affect the way insurance policies are built. Insurance companies now offer drive tracking programs to potentially lower a driver's insurance rates, the caveat being that the drive programs also run the potential risk of increasing the cost of insurance plans too, depending on a specific driver's habits.
In 2008, Progressive insurance launched its Snapshot driving program which tracked time of drive and ability to drive to more deeply assess individual driver risks. Snapshot was marketed as a way for responsible drivers to save money on auto insurance plans through Progressive. The Snapshot device was connected to vehicles through the car's OBD port for many years, but now Progressive also offers a mobile application capable of tracking driving habits as well.
