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CES 2021 OVERVIEW
TECH FOR THE NEXT NORMAL
CES 2021 went online this year but the tech on show largely ignored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
Vehicle technology has become a hugely important slice of the action at the world’s biggest consumer electronics event CES over the past decade. The US may be facing far more competition for car and vehicle manufacturers than ever, but it is also home to some of the world’s biggest and most exciting technology companies; making the annual showcase an essential window on how the next generation of vehicles will plug into our digital lives.
Arguably the main announcement at the event for fleets was General Motors EV600 annoucement which we have covered extensively in this issue but the auto-giant also detailed a raft of cutting edge tech at CES 2021, including a flying Cadillac – that some observers have likened to a COVID-19 facemask.
Perhaps reflecting the long lead time of the state-of-the-art development for the automotive industry references and solutions to the problems caused by the pandemic were noticeably thin on the ground. With its heavy slant on looking at what is imminent in the market and technology that is emerging on the horizon, CES continued in its role as a chance to highlight technology that is paving the way for the electrified and autonomous vehicles that have begun to make the transition from the drawing board to the road. Of course, EVs, in particular, are no longer exclusively in the hands of early adopters but – despite considerable progress – they are still hindered by price, charging infrastructure and range.
“Range is particularly still a big topic,” said Carolin Reichert, VP Connected Mobility Solutions, E-Mobility at Bosch during the Transform anxiety to delight for EV drivers session. “Depending on the vehicle model and the configuration, range can be a lot more than 200 miles. But depending on the traffic weather conditions and driving style, it can easily go down to 50% - and this occurs often unexpectedly - and then, of course, range anxiety is still there.
She continued: “After range anxiety, charging anxiety is the second important hurdle for drivers to buy an electric vehicle. So the density of the charging infrastructure is still far lower than what we know from gas stations. Often charging stations are
THE WORLD’S MOST SUSTAINABLE EV
Fisker Inc. – designer and manufacturer of the world’s most eco-friendly electric vehicles and advanced mobility solutions – revealed new dimension figures and images on the heels of the all-electric luxury SUV’s grand global debut at last year’s CES.
“As the world’s first alldigital car company – aimed at shifting the paradigm on how a customer selects, test drives, services and experiences a vehicle – we’re humbled and delighted at the overwhelmingly positive response to the Fisker Ocean, our disruptive mobile app-based brand experience, our smarter business model approach and the emotionallycompelling design of the vehicle itself. The Ocean’s debut at CES created real excitement in every corner of the globe, reflected by some of the top show honors presented to Fisker – including those from TIME Magazine, Business Insider, Mashable and many more prominent entities.”
“We are now excited to reveal some of the vehicle’s dimensions and additional features. In addition, we look forward to sharing more developments on the Fisker Ocean with the world soon, including the first public footage of the full productionintent prototype’s road tests – showcasing the durability and readiness of the vehicle’s fully-engineered platform.”
The Fisker Ocean experience is characterized by a sense of freedom, fun and luxury – complemented by off-road capability and superior utility.
At 4,640 millimeters (182.7 inches) in length, 1,930 millimeters (76 inches) in width and 1,615 millimeters (63.6 inches) in height, the all-electric luxury SUV offers a spacious environment for both front and rear passengers. With thoughtful design touches, new spaces are created for five adults to sit comfortably – even during the longest of rides.
With 566 liters (20 cubic feet) of trunk space, the vehicle presents practicality and utility. The space increases to 708 liters (25 cubic feet) with the parcel shelf removed, expanding to 1,274 liters (45 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded. The Fisker Ocean will come with roof rails and towing hook options. Towing capacity will be released in 2021.
The Fisker Ocean will be offered in a four-wheel drive configuration on all trims except for the base model – reflecting the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. The standard four-wheel drive configuration will deliver an output of more than 225 kilowatts (more than 300 horsepower), with an ultra-high performance version targeting zero-to-60 mph in less than three seconds (total power output to be announced later this year).
A state-of-the-art headsup display integrated into the windshield will be complemented by a large 16-inch center touch screen and a 9.8-inch cluster screen. From augmented reality features to haptic touch buttons and immersive digital experiences, the vehicle offers impressive visuals all around.
A patented feature, inspired by the Fisker brand’s roots and passion for the Southern California coastline, lowers/slides nine glass windows/panels to open the entire cabin with one touch – creating an open-air feeling, while still maintaining a full ‘roll cage’ safety structure around the passengers.
The feature allows the rear hatch glass to drop – enabling long items to be placed through the opening without having to drive with an open tailgate.
blocked or they are malfunctioning and this is of course a very important problem. And finally, it will still a significant longer time than just taking some gas into your tank.”
Knuth Sexauer, vice president of sales at HERE Technologies suggested that owners need to be considering the type of navigation solution they have on-board to better plan their journeys and ‘fuel’ stops. His company and others are working on a solution.
“What’s coming is a lot of information that is very specifically made for EV drivers. We are gathering information from 80,000 different sources into one database logging all charger types and the exact precise position of the charging point themselves. A second element is that when you are calculating a route you obviously need to consider something completely different than with a nice internal combustion engine. You have a reduced range, you potentially need to have more stops and a different route than someone who’s driving another vehicle. Here we are adding topology because depending on the topology, the consumption is different plus we are adding weather and traffic to be as precise as we can in the range calculation.”
Bosch is in an almost unique position of providing both technology for brand EVs as well as the charging infrastructure they will use in partnership with commercial operators and local government agencies. As part of the process of developing a deeper route management system for EVs with Here, Bosch is using the data from vehicles out on the road to optimise planning, including where it should be recommending locations for vehicle chargers.
“There are some EV drivers who want to charge as cheap as possible. Others prefer to charge as fast as possible and that of course also has an impact on the route they choose. The most important point is of course to provide very good coverage.
“Currently, together with our partners we provide around information to about 600,000 charging stations. For many of them, we have unified information and can see whether the charging stations are occupied or not.”
Reichert adds that the company is also looking at ways to ensure drivers can use the charging time to their advantage.
“We all know that charging takes some time. So it’s important to know can I go to a restaurant close by; can I do some shopping here? We can support by offering personalised recommendation (based on their preferences).”
In terms of electric vehicles solutions on show (virtually) at CES, many addressed real life issues facing both fleets and consumers alike.
Thunderzee, for instance, has invented a revolutionary Zinc air battery that not only eliminates the risk of fire that is commonly seen in lithium-ion batteries but also provides more energy, weighs less, costs less and is environmentally friendly. With 3 patents on file and more to follow, the Zinc air battery is ideal for a vast variety of consumer applications.
“Generally, zinc-air batteries are designed for low-power discharge and small-scale appliances, such as hearing aids. It is not suitable for high power applications. Thunderzee’s zinc-air fuel cell is a selfdeveloped high-performance component that can simultaneously provide higher energy and power than traditional zinc-air fuel cells,” said Thunderzee founder and CEO Andy Lin.
“We have made a major breakthrough in electrochemistry of metal air batteries. We developed high power metal air fuel cell components: air cathode, ion membrane, and metal fuel formulation,” Lin said, noting that fuel cells can be widely used in military and commercial applications.
Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Automotive) meanwhile announced two variants of invehicle wireless charging technology (moving coil and static coil.) Both of these variants will provide efficient in-vehicle charging that meet or exceed most current in-vehicle charging systems. The average American, for instance, owns ten connected devices per household
and many of those devices travel with us in the vehicle on short or long trips. As a result, the need for fast, efficient charging must also be readily accessible in a vehicle. With customers utilising apps, navigation and music that require constant power, the demand is high for having reliable in-vehicle sources for efficient charging of devices. However, the majority of vehicle charging systems remain wired or tethered. Panasonic Automotive’s wireless charging system aims to be a more accurate and more efficient way to charge – to be accessible in any vehicle without the hassle of first plugging in.
While drivers remain in control of their vehicles, there were plenty of examples at this year’s CES of safety technology that can be deployed to keep them safe behind the wheel.
DAR manufacturer Blickfeld unveiled its automotive LiDAR products for the first time at digital CES 2021. After commercially launching the industrial LiDAR “Cube 1” in 2020, the Munich-based company is presented its automotive LiDAR suite consisting of a mid-range as well as a longrange sensor. Blickfeld is also introducing its MEMS scanning module 118 as a product.
The mid-range sensor, called Blickfeld Vision Mini, has very small dimensions that can be customised according to customer requirements. Example dimensions of 5 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm illustrate the 3D LiDAR sensor’s compactness, enabling it to be smartly and efficiently integrated into vehicles. By incorporating it into side mirrors, headlights, rear-view lamps, and the A, B, and C pillars, for example, a 360° surround-view is achieved. With a field of view of up to 107° and a range of up to 150 meters on vehicles, the sensor provides reliable data for automated and autonomous driving in urban traffic.
Complementing the Vision Mini, Blickfeld is also introducing a long-range LiDAR sensor for automotive applications, the Blickfeld Vision Plus. This sensor is designed for use at the front and rear of the vehicle and covers the detection of small objects at distances of up to 200 meters. Together Vision Mini and Vision Plus enable automation for level 2+ and upward autonomous vehicles.
Both sensors are based on the patented Blickfeld technology. Consequently, they include the proven features such as a customizable field-of-view, configurable scan pattern, and good signal-to-noise ratio thanks to the coaxial design. The sensors’ low power consumption also contributes to their automotive suitability, as does their robustness and production scalability.
LET THE TAXI TAKE THE STRAIN
Slowly but surely autonomous transport technology is being explored within the automotive industry – again CES proved an event ready to hear even the craziest of ideas.
FIVE WAYS SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES WILL CHANGE CITY LIVING
Consumer adoption of autonomous cars will change the way cities are built and the way we live, work and play. It may also accelerate the move toward smart cities such as Toyota’s Woven City, which was announced at CES 2020. Selfdriving vehicles offer contactless options for ridesharing and delivery — which has seen an increase in demand since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic — decrease traffic accidents and mitigate vehicles’ environmental effect.
Traditional structures make way
Decreasing private car ownership will in turn reduce the need for traditional parking structures. The land freed up by the removal of parking structures and private car dealerships can be reallocated to housing and other retail or business buildings, meeting the needs of increasing urbanization.cc This can change the pricing of real estate and better distribute urban populations. Areas farther from city centers could grow in popularity as commuting time becomes less of a concern.
Around-the-clock mobility
Self-driving vehicles are able to operate around the clock, reducing the strain on shipping and logistics. More efficient supply chains that are not hindered by wait times can potentially lower the cost of shipping and accelerate production timelines. According to PwC’s Global Truck Study 2018, the automation of processes and delivery vehicles will reduce logistics costs for trandard transport by 47% by 2030. E-commerce businesses and more may experience an increase in business productivity and savings on operational costs.
Building the roads of the future
Results from a consumer market survey conducted by an urban mobility consulting firm highlighted that many consumers believe lanes dedicated to self-driving vehicles are a good idea. The same study also showed that a majority believe that current infrastructures are not ready for autonomous cars. Changes in public transportation use, highways and roads due to mass adoption of self-driving vehicles would mean rapid changes to the way roads and other smart cities infrastructures are built and maintained.
Autonomous facilities
Self-driving technologies may also extend beyond transportation. Businesses can move to mobile versions, offering new opportunities for engaging with consumers. Gyms, stores and consulting businesses, for example, could go from customer to customer, expanding their customer base and improving the customer experience. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® Autonomous Delivery Systems: Consumer Awareness and Favorability report highlighted 48% of consumers are favorable toward selfdriving vehicles being used for delivery. In the hospitality industry, mobile hotel rooms could change the landscape of conferences and events.
Expanding independent living arrangements
Self-driving cars and their use cases could make life easier for people who have mobility problems because of illness, age or disabilities. People who currently have to rely on family members, taxi services, public transportation or their care facilities can more conveniently go to desired locations at their convenience in a safe manner. This encourages more independent living and increases the choices of living arrangements for those who experience mobility difficulties.
Panasonic Automotive, again, introduced its new Augmented Reality (AR) HUD. The leader in projection generation innovation, Panasonic is utilising its latest advances in optics, volume optimisation and imaging technology, combined with AI technology from its SPYDR cockpit domain controller to render near-field and far-field content for vehicle information (like speed), object and pedestrian detection, and mapping/ route guidance, for a seamless, more engaged and informed driver experience.
“The HUD market is one of the fastest growing categories in mobility, but traditional HUDs only cover a small section of the road,” said Scott Kirchner, president Panasonic Automotive and executive director, Panasonic Smart Mobility. “Panasonic’s AR HUD solutions cover more of the roadway, with traditional cluster content like speed and fuel in the near field as well as 3D overlays in the far field, showing navigation and other critical driver data mapping spatially to the road ahead. And in a future with more self-driving vehicles, our AR HUD could provide an important added level of comfort and assurance for AV passengers as well.”
With the number of traffic accidents rising each year, enhanced vehicle safety features are more important than ever. Studies have linked a large percentage of traffic accidents to reduced driver attention due to smartphone use. Opticser is incorporating advanced optics solutions to improve driver safety on the road. As an emerging company focused on the development of advanced optics technology, Opticser is confident that its products will not only impact vehicle drivers but also help increase general productivity and quality of life through other applications. The promising tech startup that drives innovative solutions through the development of advanced optics technology. Its research development team is composed of talented individuals from multiple disciplines, including optics, computer science, industrial design, and marketing. All work closely together to help create new systems that improve productivity and user experiences. To minimise driver’s loss of attention on the road, Opticser realised that the most direct and effective solution is to develop an automotive head-up display (HUD) for vehicles. The automotive HUD market is expected to top $4.3 billion by 2025, highlighting the explosive growth and opportunities in this sector over the coming few years. Even before this trend began, Opticser had built a solid track record of success in this area. It holds a large number
of related patents and is set to grow quickly into a leadership position in the sector.
Driving-assistance information such as navigation, speed, speed limits, and turnby-turn directions is all projected onto the windshield in the form of a floating virtual image on the road. The success of the Dartrays HUD lies in Opticser’s patented optical path design, consisting of an LCD that projects real-time images onto a fold mirror, which then reflects the image onto a curved mirror and optical lens for aberration correction and image enlargement. The virtual image is then projected onto the windshield. With a full suite of driving information displayed in easy view, drivers can concentrate on what’s coming on the road ahead, thus reducing distractions and the risk of accidents.
NNG LLC, a market leader in locationbased mobility, in-vehicle user experience, and automotive cyber-security solutions, today announced the development of a first-ofits-kind situational analysis, lane-guidance module for navigation, enabling ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) features and future automated driving applications.
The proof of concept, built upon NNG’s modular navigation SDK (software development kit), utilises vehicle sensor data, HD maps, and environmental models to enable advanced lane-level guidance. The solution revolutionizes how environmental model and HD map data is visualised on infotainment HMIs. It also provides cuttingedge voice and visual guidance that considers not only the nuances of road geometry from the HD map data, but also objects in the vehicle’s environment. NNG’s solution can, by algorithmically calculating lane occupancy, predict other vehicles’ positions in surrounding lanes, enabling NNG to suggest tactical maneuvers to the driver or autonomous driving module. The solution also features optimized guidance timing helping to dramatically reduce driver cognitive load, increasing road safety.
“The recent ground-breaking improvements in vehicle-sensors, AI technologies, and HD mapping not only enable automated driving but can also be used to make manual driving safer by warning the driver, via modern human-machine interfaces such as augmented reality headup displays,” said Martin Pfeifle, CTO of NNG LLC. “NNG is excited to be at the forefront of this wave of innovation.”
SKY HIGH IDEAS
General Motors unveiled its flying Cadillac concept at the show joining several other firms with ideas for airborne transport suitable for densely populated urban sprawls.
