USB Smart Hub ICs going to rule Smartphone-Connected Automotive Infotainment

With the rise in in-vehicle infotainment systems, car manufacturers need to provide a reliable, intelligent connection between the car’s display and one or more smartphones or tablets. Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MCHP), the industry leader in supplying the integrated circuits (ICs) that enable these connections, provides unrivaled options with its five new USB 2.0 smart hub ICs. These devices, available in a variety of architectures, offer greatly increased flexibility to fit car manufacturers’ design needs and meet consumer demand for easy-to-use, intuitive systems.

The five new devices enable multiple architectures so manufacturers can implement their design of choice to easily interface with all major smartphone operating systems. These systems allow the graphical user interface of the phone or tablet to be displayed on the vehicle’s screen and enable integration with voice commands inside the car, all while simultaneously charging the mobile devices. They also enable driver assistance applications on mobile handsets to be integrated with an automobile’s infotainment system.

Microchip’s new smart hub ICs enable cascading of the hubs to the second- and third-row seats with simultaneous data and charging in all ports. For example, if there are dual USB ports, one port can connect the phone or tablet to the head unit, leaving the other port free to charge and upload/download data. With Microchip’s new USB4914, USB4916, USB4925, and USB4927 smart hub ICs, car makers can customize solutions to meet their design needs. As the car becomes more of an entertainment environment, manufacturers can create solutions that allow consumers, for example, to use one phone for navigation and another for music or video.

“Microchip is the leader in USB hub ICs for the automotive industry,” said Mitch Obolsky, vice president of Microchip’s USB and Networking Group. “Our long-term investment delivers patented technology that provides unique host/device bus configurations for handset connectivity into vehicles to allow better access to information and safer driver assistance and communication.”

Microchip’s new USB4715, USB4914, USB4916, USB4925 and USB4927 USB 2.0 smart hub ICs provide unique USB configurations including single- and dual-bus implementations for optimal connection to infotainment systems. All devices operate with standard USB drivers present in most automotive head units for faster development, system validation and field updates. Each device also contains an integrated 32-bit microcontroller for advanced bridging, audio application support and USB Power Delivery (USB PD).

Development Support
A demonstration application board and evaluation board are available for each of the new USB 2.0 smart hub ICs. The demonstration application board emulates a system that a tier one supplier or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) would use in their actual application. Microchip also provides a USB Power Delivery application showing charging for the USB PD 3.0 specification.

Pricing and Availability
The USB4715, USB4914 and USB4925 are offered in a 48-pin QFN package. The USB4916 and USB4927 come in a 64-pin QFN package. Devices are available today in volume production starting at $3.25 each in 10,000 unit quantities.

 

The Future of Transportation: Vehicle Connectivity

Vehicle connectivity is changing the way society experiences transportation.

The rapid advancement of vehicle technology is dramatically altering transportation models around the world. From early stage consumer infotainment features, to ride sharing and on-demand mobility services, to fully autonomous vehicles in the future, connectivity in the car has been the driving force behind recent automotive technology advancements. As a result, vehicles have morphed into much more than just a way to get from one place to another, but extensions of consumer digital lifestyles and a catalyst for significant change in the way society will experience future mobility.

To visually summarize the past, present and future of vehicle connectivity, Airbiquity developed an info graphic, Mapping Vehicle Connectivity: The Driving Force Behind Automotive Innovation, comprised of four key phases of the connected car.

Phase 1: Connecting the car.

The first phase of the connected car was establishing connectivity between the vehicle for call center and concierge services like GM’s On Star. Many automakers followed suit and introduced similar safety and convenience services. Simultaneously, Bluetooth technology was introduced which enabled drivers to safely make and receive “hands free” phone calls while in their vehicle for the first time. This phase wouldn’t last long however, as the widespread consumer adoption of more sophisticated smartphones drastically altered the driving experience and in-vehicle environment.

Phase 2: Infotainment

The second phase of vehicle connectivity was driven by the introduction of smartphones and pervasive use of mobile apps. Leveraging the connectivity that preceded it, infotainment quickly became a ‘must have’ feature for new car buyers, especially millenials. The first infotainment service was announced by Ford in 2007, and by 2015, all major automakers had integrated some type of infotainment system into their vehicles. Infotainment programs allowed popular apps like Spotify and Pandora to enter the vehicle environment, mirroring the already familiar smartphone-based mobile experience and extending consumers’ digital lifestyle into their cars.

Phase 3: Software and data management

As we enter phase three, the phase we’re currently in, vehicle technology is advancing again with the introduction of over-the-air (OTA) services, which enable the transmission of software updates and data between a vehicle and the cloud. For context, imagine if you had to go to a physical retail store every time you needed to update your smartphone operating system or apps. It would be very inconvenient, correct? Similar to a smartphone, vehicle software  will increasingly need to be updated as well – and OTA technology allows this to happen remotely. Prior to OTA, consumers had to visit dealerships to get their vehicle software updated, a costly burden for automakers and a hassle for vehicle owners. With OTA, global automaker cost savings for mitigating software recalls and cyber security threats alone are forcasted to increase from $2.7 billion in 2015, to $35 billion by 2022, according to research firm IHS. In addition to revolutionizing vehicle vehicle software update and data management, OTA will also serve as a foundation for the fourth phase of connected car: fully autonomous driving.

Phase 4: Autonomous driving

The introduction and adoption of fully autonomous vehicles, those requiring no human intervention, will dramatically alter the future of mobility. As the driving wheel disappears from vehicles altogether, vehicle design will radically transform as automakers shift to accommodate additional technology developments like the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), new transportation models, and enhanced user experiences. Looking towards an autonomous future, transportation will no longer be centered on the traditional concept of individual car ownership in favor of a new era of “smart” transportation and on-demand mobility services.

n conclusion, vehicle connectivity has been central to many of the major automotive technology advancements over the last two decades, and will continue to impact the way society experiences transportation going forward.

New engines, infotainment bugs hurting auto reliability

• New technology in cars and trucks is making them less reliable, a Consumer Reports survey found.
• Vehicle owners continue to be frustrated with new systems that are filled with bugs and glitches.
• The survey is based on the impressions of more than 640,000 vehicle owners.\

New and more advanced transmissions as well as more complex infotainment systems are hurting the reliability of cars and trucks.

That is the conclusion of the Consumer Reports annual auto reliability survey.

“It is really the new technology that is being added to the new vehicles that has really been the problem,” said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports.

The survey, based on the impressions of more than 640,000 vehicle owners, is considered a benchmark report in the auto industry.

This year, Fisher says, vehicle owners continue to be frustrated with new systems that are filled with bugs and glitches. In particular, new transmissions designed to improve the performance of new models are often delivering an inconsistent ride for drivers. Fisher says these technologies have more than their fair share of problems.

So which brands get the highest marks from their owners?

This year, Toyota was No. 1, with Lexus coming in second and Kia moving up to third, the highest ranking that brand has ever achieved.

What stands out to Fisher about the most reliable brands is their conservative approach to introducing new systems into vehicles.

“These are auto manufacturers that are very slow and methodical as they add to that technology,” said Fisher. As a result, Toyota and Lexus owners complained less about seeing glitches in their vehicles.

On the other end of the survey, three domestic brands were ranked as having the least reliable models, with Cadillac falling six spots to dead last in the survey.

“With General Motors, they put out a lot of new product very recently, and they are struggling with that,” said Fisher. “We expect that over the years, over the generations, the life generation of these vehicles, they are going to get a lot of the bugs worked out.”

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@Info credits CNBC (Consumer Reports annual auto reliability survey.)

 

New vehicle infotainment systems create increased distractions behind the wheel

New vehicle infotainment systems can take drivers’ eyes and attention off the road and hands off the wheel for dangerous periods of time, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Drivers using in-vehicle technologies like voice-based and touch screen features were visually and mentally distracted for more than 40 seconds when completing tasks like programming navigation or sending a text message. Removing eyes from the road for just two seconds doubles the risk for a crash, according to previous research. With one in three U.S. adults using infotainment systems while driving, AAA cautions that using these technologies while behind the wheel can have dangerous consequences.

AAA has conducted this new research to help automakers and system designers improve the functionality of new infotainment systems and the demand they place on drivers.

“Some in-vehicle technology can create unsafe situations for drivers on the road by increasing the time they spend with their eyes and attention off the road and hands off the wheel,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “When an in-vehicle technology is not properly designed, simple tasks for drivers can become complicated and require more effort from drivers to complete.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety commissioned researchers from the University of Utah to examine the visual (eyes off road) and cognitive (mental) demand as well as the time it took drivers to complete a task using the infotainment systems in 30 new 2017 vehicles. Study participants were required to use voice command, touch screen and other interactive technologies to make a call, send a text message, tune the radio or program navigation, all while driving down the road.

Programming navigation was the most distracting task, taking an average of 40 seconds for drivers to complete. When driving at 25 mph, a driver can travel the length of four football fields during the time it could take to enter a destination in navigation—all while distracted from the important task of driving. Programming navigation while driving was available in 12 of the 30 vehicle systems tested.

New vehicle infotainment systems can take drivers’ eyes and attention off the road and hands off the wheel for dangerous periods of time, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
None of the 30 vehicle infotainment systems produced low demand, while 23 systems generated high or very high levels of demand on drivers:

• 12 systems generated very high demand
• 11 systems generated high demand
• 7 systems generated moderate demand

 

Overall Demand by Vehicle

Low

N/A

Moderate

Chevrolet Equinox LT
Ford F250 XLT
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Lincoln MKC Premiere
Toyota Camry SE
Toyota Corolla SE
Toyota Sienna XLE

High

Cadillac XT5 Luxury
Chevrolet Traverse LT
Dodge Ram 1500
Ford Fusion Titanium
Hyundai Sonata Base
Infiniti Q50 Premium
Jeep Compass Sport
Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Kia Sorento LX
Nissan Maxima SV
Toyota Rav 4 XLE

Very High

Audi Q7 QPP
Chrysler 300 C
Dodge Durango GT
Ford Mustang GT
GMC Yukon SLT
Honda Civic Touring
Honda Ridgeline RTL-E
Mazda3 Touring
Nissan Armada SV
Subaru Crosstrek Premium
Tesla Model S
Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription

“Drivers want technology that is safe and easy to use, but many of the features added to infotainment systems today have resulted in overly complex and sometimes frustrating user experiences for drivers,” said Marshall Doney, AAA’s president and CEO.

Frustration resulting from unsatisfactory use of these systems increases cognitive demand and increases the potential for distracted driving.

“AAA has met with interested auto manufacturers and suppliers to discuss our findings. We welcome the opportunity to meet with other interested parties to discuss the report’s recommendations and ways to mitigate driver distraction,” added Doney.

According to a new AAA public opinion survey, nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults say that they want the new technology in their vehicle, but only 24 percent feel that the technology already works perfectly.

“Some of the latest systems on the market now include functions unrelated to the core task of driving like sending text messages, checking social media or surfing the web—tasks we have no business doing behind the wheel,” continued Doney. “Automakers should aim to reduce distractions by designing systems that are no more visually or mentally demanding than listening to the radio or an audiobook. And drivers should avoid the temptation to engage with these technologies, especially for non-driving tasks.”

Researchers developed an advanced rating scale to measure the visual (eyes off road) and cognitive (mental) demands and the time it took to complete a task using each vehicle’s infotainment system. The scale ranged from low to very high levels of demand. A low level of demand equates to listening to the radio or an audiobook, while very high demand is equivalent to trying to balance a checkbook while driving. AAA believes a safe in-vehicle technology system should not exceed a low level of demand.

Researchers found that most infotainment systems tested could easily be made safer by simply following clearly stated federal recommendations such as locking out text messaging, social media and programming navigation while the car is in motion. In 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a set of voluntary safety guidelines advising automakers to block access to tasks when vehicles are not parked.

“These are solvable problems. By following NHTSA’s voluntary guidelines to lock out certain features that generate high demand while driving, automakers can significantly reduce distraction,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of Traffic Safety Advocacy & Research. “AAA cautions drivers that just because a technology is available while driving does not mean it is safe or easy to use when behind the wheel. Drivers should only use these technologies for legitimate emergencies or urgent, driving related purposes.”

A total of 120 drivers ages 21-36 participated in the study of 30 new 2017 model-year vehicles. The latest report is the fifth phase of distraction research from AAA’s Center for Driving Safety and Technology. The Center was created in 2013 with the goal of studying the safety implications for how drivers interact with new vehicle technologies when behind the wheel.

@info credits AAA