The Future of Automotive Software Development: Connected Cars and IoT

For a long time, the role of a custom software development company in automotive design has been increasingly important. The software integrates the various functions of the car, offering users a whole series of advantages: advanced safety solutions, driver assistance or systems that improve driving comfort, among others. Customers in the automotive market are increasingly interested in automating individual systems. The continuous development of the automotive industry, in particular towards Connected Cars and IoT means that we will soon see "cars of the future" on the road.

The number of connected cars is constantly increasing to the point that the fleet of connected vehicles is expected to triple in the coming years. As per research shared by Statista, in 2025, the connected cars market will grow to $ 121 million. Experiences Per Mile (EPM) is an organization that brings together business leaders and sector analysts who work on transforming the mobility industry towards an experience-oriented vision that puts the consumer at the forefront. They aim to uncover best practices and drive cross-industry innovation to define and improve the automotive consumer experience. And the organization has just released its Experiences Per Mile 2030 report. Here are the main findings:

After more than a century of status quo, during which combustion cars were sold to individuals through retail networks around the world, the industry has embarked on an ambitious new path: "CASE" (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, Electric) to evoke electric, connected, autonomous, shared vehicles. Why these qualifiers? Because they give indications of current trends as cited below:

1. By 2030, 96% of new vehicles worldwide will have built-in connectivity (doubling since 2020).
2. By 2030, 79% of new vehicles worldwide will have Level 2 autonomy or better (compared to 45% in 2020).
3. By 2030, 26% of mobility benefits will come from new sources – for example, on-demand mobility (compared to 1% in 2020).
4. By 2030, 24% of new cars will be electric (compared to 3% in 2020).

The objective of Automotive Software Development

The main idea is to be able to control all parameters and functions of the car using special software. These solutions offer a much higher level of safety and driving comfort thanks to permanent updates and access to wireless services.

This concept is rapidly gaining popularity in the automotive industry. This is an approach that offers many advantages such as optimizing the life cycle and the value of the vehicle through the commercialization of "software". This type of technology will also collect more information about cars and driving parameters in order to improve solutions efficiently.

Advantages of Automotive Software Development

Connected cars offer many advantages in terms of safety and convenience. Customers will be able to receive over-the-air updates, which will include the following enhancements, among others:

• Enhanced security features,
• New functions of the infotainment system,
• Monitoring and adjusting basic vehicle functions, primarily those of the powertrain.

In doing so, connected vehicles will facilitate the collection of essential data used by vehicle manufacturers. It will be possible to have a continuous overview of every aspect of the operation and performance of the vehicle. This ongoing monitoring and control will allow the manufacturer to improve car lifecycle management systems and develop new features that could generate even more revenue.

The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

In an urban center, fully autonomous vehicles require a high-speed 5G connection for thousands of cars simultaneously. Although 4G is a vast improvement over 3G and is well suited for most IoT applications today, truly autonomous vehicles require higher bandwidth and lower latency. To this end, vast US cities like Los Angeles and New York are setting up a 5G connection system and expanding their 5G coverage. However, these networks are not permanently installed for the benefit of autonomous vehicles. In that case, 5G cars will be able to connect to the new networks and take advantage of this infrastructure.

Any connected vehicle will be able to "communicate wirelessly" with traffic lights,toll booths, school zones, and to each other through in-vehicle or aftermarket devices that continuously exchange essential safety and mobility information. The vehicle information is anonymous, so vehicles cannot be tracked, and the system is protected against tampering.

5G cars will also pick up signals sent by 5G phones in the pockets of pedestrians. This will be one way for self-driving cars to avoid hitting people at crosswalks or intersections. Even if a car's radar and cameras cannot detect a person, they will detect the signal from their phone. Self-driving vehicles equipped with 5G will also be able to connect to a city's smart grid to locate available parking lots, access services, and enjoy other benefits we may not yet have imagined. For example, school buses, construction vehicles, and ambulances will broadcast their location so self-driving cars can redirect their path.

Let’s come to a Halt

The automotive industry is changing on many levels. Some aspects are being merged, completely changing the prior development of automotive systems. One of these aspects is Connected cars and IoT mobility. As the automotive industry invests in developing connected cars and IoT vehicles that run through software, users expect more electrification, automation, optimization, and customization with the support of software product development services. In addition, the transition towards continuous improvement of the safety of connected vehicle products with modern mobility solutions accelerates innovation.