Connecting the Vehicle with the Environment - Trends and Challenges

Innovations in automotive electronics have become increasingly complex, resulting in high-end vehicles containing more than 70 electronic control units and offering a variety of functions to the driver. In-vehicle telematics and infotainment systems provide services like digital radio, broadcast services, television, and MP3 audio. Future applications and services will integrate information sources available outside and inside the car, requiring vehicle systems connected with in-vehicle Consumer Electronics devices and the outside world. In order to realized the vision of an intelligent networked car, connected with the environment and providing the driver with information according to his demands, common efforts towards car manufacturer and supplier spanning standards for data exchange are required. The paper discusses possible approaches and future challenges.