Tag: connected

Report: Connected vehicle test granted another six months

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Vehicles equipped with dedicated short range communication systems, which features vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications.

The Department of Transportation and eight major automakers have spent a year testing vehicles equipped with dedicated short range communication (DSRC) systems in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but they have decided to extend the test for another six months, Automotive News reports.

With a focus on safety, DSRC is meant to reduce collisions using wifi-based vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication systems, which can alert drivers to red-light runners, blind intersections, vehicles in their blind spots, etc. DSRC-equipped vehicles have a multitude of alarms to alert drivers to danger, such as sirens, flashing lights or vibrating steering wheels or seats. The tests will help the DOT determine if the technology is ready for production, or if more research needs to be done.

As part of the test extension, the DOT and automakers will focus more heavily on DSRC with motorcycles and V2I communication. It is not mentioned which, if any, motorcycle manufacturers will be involved in the test. The DOT says that the six-month extension does not affect its plan to decide on the technology for light vehicles by the end of 2013, and heavy duty vehicles in 2014.

The test started last August with a fleet of nearly 3,000 vehicles from Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. The automakers came together to develop a standardized DSRC system through a group called the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership.

Connected vehicle test granted another six months originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Connected vehicle test granted another six months

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Vehicles equipped with dedicated short range communication systems, which features vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications.

The Department of Transportation and eight major automakers have spent a year testing vehicles equipped with dedicated short range communication (DSRC) systems in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but they have decided to extend the test for another six months, Automotive News reports.

With a focus on safety, DSRC is meant to reduce collisions using wifi-based vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication systems, which can alert drivers to red-light runners, blind intersections, vehicles in their blind spots, etc. DSRC-equipped vehicles have a multitude of alarms to alert drivers to danger, such as sirens, flashing lights or vibrating steering wheels or seats. The tests will help the DOT determine if the technology is ready for production, or if more research needs to be done.

As part of the test extension, the DOT and automakers will focus more heavily on DSRC with motorcycles and V2I communication. It is not mentioned which, if any, motorcycle manufacturers will be involved in the test. The DOT says that the six-month extension does not affect its plan to decide on the technology for light vehicles by the end of 2013, and heavy duty vehicles in 2014.

The test started last August with a fleet of nearly 3,000 vehicles from Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. The automakers came together to develop a standardized DSRC system through a group called the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership.

Connected vehicle test granted another six months originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Sep 2013 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus Electric gets connected by AT&T

Filed under: Technology, Hatchback, Ford, Electric

MyFord Mobile App

MyFord Mobile App for the 2012 Focus Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hot on the heels of Audi’s announcement to use T-Mobile for its future wireless data needs, Ford has partnered with AT&T to provide connectivity to the 2012 Focus Electric.

Nearly every EV or plug-in hybrid coming to market will offer some combination of embedded wireless data and an accompanying smartphone app, and as we saw at CES with our exclusive hands-on of MyFord Mobile, FoMoCo will be offering a similar solution for its all-electric Focus hatchback.

The partnership Ma Bell and the Blue Oval involves an embedded wireless connection in the EV that allows drivers with the MyFord Mobile app to keep track of charging, set specific times of the day to juice up (late at night when electrons are cheap) and receive a variety of notifications, ranging from battery status to maintenance reminders.

MapQuest has been tapped to provide charging station locations, range alerts, trip planning and vehicle location, and the MyFord Mobile app also includes the ability to remotely lock and unlocks doors, heat and cool the interior and download performance and system data. And if your phone doesn’t have the app, you can use any HTML5-based or WAP 2.0-supported browser to keep tabs on your EV. Hit the jump for the full details and check out our write-up on MyFord Mobile.

Gallery: Hands On: MyFord Mobile App

Continue reading Ford Focus Electric gets connected by AT&T

Ford Focus Electric gets connected by AT&T originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini Connected app will change music to suit driving

Filed under: Technology, Mini

If you’ve used one of the athletic apps for the iPhone, you’re probably familiar with the feature that matches the music to your workout. You run faster, the system ups the BPM. Cycle slower and the tempo drops. Mini wants to do something similar with the Mini Connected system, and that’s just the tip of the interactive infotainment iceberg.

Mini Connected is the automaker’s integrated music and navigation system, which connects to a smattering of smartphones to stream music and data to the stereo. However, the iPhone and iPod are currently more deeply integrated into the system, including the introduction of the new iPod out functionality which displays Apple’s music player controls on the Mini’s center-mounted screen. But that’s nothing new and Mini wants to go deeper, so it’s releasing the Mini Connected iPhone/iPod touch app to increase the interaction.

The headlining Dynamic Music function plays tunes that have been exclusively composed for Mini and then adjusts the rhythm based on your driving style. Additionally, a web radio function allows users to listen to local radio stations independent of their location, and the app can be programmed to read RSS news feeds, supply Google local searches and send information from your browser to the Cooper’s display. Facebook and Twitter integration will also be included, while the “Minimalism Analyzer” provides advice on how to drive more efficiently.

Mini hasn’t outlined a timeframe on when the new app will be released, but it’s a few steps above and beyond what’s on offer from Ford’s Sync system – assuming it works as seamlessly as advertised. The one drawback: it’s currently only for Apple users, so Android, Blackberry, PalmOS and – any day now – Windows Phone 7 users are out in the cold for the time being. Get all the details in the press blast after the break.

Continue reading Mini Connected app will change music to suit driving

Mini Connected app will change music to suit driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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