In embedded chips and connected car news tips this week there was news from Esri, HERE, BMW, Iseego, Cadence Design, Business Chrome, LexisNexis, VIA Technologies, Octo Telematics, Autoliv and Metamoto.
Esri ArcGIS & HERE
Users of ArcGIS, the powerful location intelligence software from Esri, the world leader in spatial analytics, can now take advantage of a wide range of map data from HERE Technologies, following a new multi-year licensing agreement between the two companies.
The agreement means ArcGIS users have access to global, accurate and fresh geospatial content, including dozens of new and rich map attributes. The expanded set of attributes will enhance core ArcGIS capabilities of mapping, geocoding, routing and spatial analysis, allowing ArcGIS users to consume these enhanced capabilities in their ArcGIS applications and, at the same time, allow partners and developers to create new and innovative solutions.
Esri is also integrating HERE’s historical, real-time and predictive traffic data into the ArcGIS platform. These data streams can serve as a powerful asset in everything from deciding where to build a new road, to developing services for which accurate ETA calculations are critical.
BreezoMeter’s & HERE Real-Time Traffic Data for Better Air Quality
BreezoMeter, the leading global air quality analytics provider, is incorporating real-time road traffic data from HERE Technologies to aid its assessment and forecasts of air quality across more than 50 countries.
According to the OECD, annually more than 3 million people are killed by outdoor air pollution*, of which road traffic itself is a major contributor.
Israel-based BreezoMeter is helping organizations around the world understand and take action by providing them with air quality data as simple, intuitive and actionable as weather information.
Using sophisticated algorithms and machine learning techniques, BreezoMeter calculates air pollution at hyperlocal scale, drawing on numerous sources of data, including governmental sensors, satellites and weather patterns. With road traffic a major cause of poor air quality around the world, BreezoMeter is further enriching its analyses with HERE Real-Time Traffic, the industry’s first real-time traffic engine enhanced with aggregated, rich sensor data from connected cars. HERE Real-Time Traffic identifies where and when traffic congestion occurs and delivers up-to-the-minute information about current traffic conditions.
Iseego SaaS Fleet Management for Red Cross
Inseego Corp. announced that the Red Cross Rescue Service in Tyrol, Austria, has awarded Inseego’s Ctrack a five-year contract to deploy its fleet management SaaS solution across the Red Cross’s fleet of rescue vehicles. Ctrack’s platform was chosen to drive increased efficiency of the Red Cross’s rescue service operations through an advanced fleet management system that monitors multiple parameters of critical importance to the emergency services industry.
Key features of the solution include driver behavior, along with exceptions such as harsh braking and cornering, and automatic trip recording when emergency lights, sirens, or various other indicators are activated.
Where traditionally a vehicle was just a dot on a map, the Red Cross is now provided with continuous in-depth information about every aspect of their fleet. The Ctrack solution not only provides mission critical information for the Red Cross’s emergency services, it also helps re-produce trip information to defend legal disputes surrounding insurance claims as well as help comply with government regulations and documentation requiremen.
Cadence Design Systems AUTOSAR Compliant
Cadence Design Systems announced it has collaborated with the Embedded Real-Time System Laboratory of Nagoya University to port the AUTOSAR-compliant TOPPERS ATK2-SC1 (Toyohashi OPen Platform for Embedded Real-time Systems Automotive Kernel version-2 Scalability Class 1) to Cadence® Tensilica processors and DSPs. Nagoya University and Cadence jointly ported the ATK2-SC1 to the Tensilica processor platform, validating that it functions correctly and operates at competitive performance levels. With this port, developers working on advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), human machine interface (HMI), autonomous driving system and other automotive applications requiring the high computational capabilities of Tensilica processors can start early development of automotive applications on the TOPPERS automotive kernel.
Business Chrome River Expense for Lyft for Business
Chrome River users will first need a Lyft business profile, which anyone can create by adding a work email address in the Lyft app or online. Once the business profile is enabled, users simply select Chrome River as their expense management provider within the account settings. Lyft will then automatically send receipts from rides taken under the user’s business profile account, to their Chrome River EXPENSE account, without the need for any additional input. Chrome River then converts this data into an expense item, ready for submission.
Companies can sign up for a free Lyft for Business account and invite their employees to take advantage of the integration, as well as offering options for payment of employees’ rides.
LexisNexis & Modus Alliance
LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a leading provider of data and analytics in insurance telematics, and Modus, a leading provider of advanced vehicle tracking systems for insurers, fleet managers and businesses, announced today a new alliance which provides insurers more options in after-market solutions to gather data and apply advanced analytics in developing and managing their UBI programs. Through this alliance, Modus is joining the LexisNexis Telematics Exchange, which will allow insurance carriers who opt in to take advantage of data from the industry and OEMs, make better decisions faster, and gain unique insights for competitive advantage.
Modus offers an innovative, scalable and flexible connected car platform to deliver driver performance data that enables insurers to identify and characterize more accurate risk profiles. The LexisNexis Telematics Exchange ingests and normalizes telematics data gathered from many data sources, including auto manufacturers (OEMs) or after-market devices such as 12-Volt, OBDII dongles and smartphone apps from companies like Modus. Once this data is compiled and normalized, LexisNexis then scores it using advanced analytics and predictive modeling specific to telematics to provide driving behavior insights for insurers. This approach allows insurers to access key data and analytics on the driver, which can help improve pricing and profitability across an insurer’s entire portfolio.
VIA Mobile360 ADAS Kit
VIA Technologies announced the launch of the VIA Mobile360 ADAS Sample Kit to enable the rapid integration of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in commercial vehicles.
The kit supports a complete range of ADAS features that enhance vehicle safety by keeping drivers alerted to constantly-changing road conditions, including Lane Departure Warning, Forward and Rear Collision Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Pedestrian Detection, and Vehicle Detection. It comprises a ruggedized in-vehicle system with an integrated 4G modem and GPS for remote wireless tracking and monitoring, four automotive-grade FOV-50 cameras, and a 7” automotive-grade HD resistive touch monitor.
The kit also features VIA Mobile360 E-Track, a cloud portal that enables fleet owners to capture and analyze vehicle and driver data for real-time tracking, recording, and asset management. Enhanced E-Track Computer Vision functions such as Driver Monitoring, Cargo Monitoring, and License Plate Detection can also be added through the integration of up to two additional FOV-50 cameras.
Octo Next Generation Platfrom
Octo Telematics, a leading global provider of telematics and data analytics solutions for the auto insurance industry, announced that it has launched its Next Generation Platform (NGP), a business and technology investment of more than $40 million. The platform provides open access and seamless integration of any Application Platform Interface (API), as well as a fully-modular insurance telematics structure, affording flexibility through mix-and-match service selection. The development of the platform as an IOT ecosystem, provides innovators with the scope and ability to meet the rapidly growing global demand for User-Based Insurance (UBI), that is predicted to reach 93m global policies by 2020.
Building on its best-in-industry telematics software, Octo’s NGP can take data from any sensor through its IoT hub, analyze it to deliver multidimensional analytics, and provide real-time data services to support a full digital transformation of the policyholder experience. In addition to core telematics services such as driver behavior scoring, and crash and claims analysis, these new capabilities provide better risk analytics for insurance, OEM, and long term rental and fleet partners.
Developed with support from Salesforce, Software AG, SAS and SAP, as well as consulting firms Deloitte and Capgemini, the NGP represents a transformation of the industry’s current software platforms. The NGP was built to boost the potential of IoT and digital insurance disruption; giving companies of all scale the solution to build a complete new customer experience for policyholders and transform other insurance verticals besides auto – like home, pet, health and on-demand insurance.
Autoliv Invests in Autotech Ventures
Autoliv announced that it will make a $15 million investment in Autotech Ventures, the digital ground transport venture capital fund.
Autoliv’s investment in Autotech Ventures, a fund focused broadly on the automotive industry complements Autoliv’s own innovation strategy, particularly in the areas of active safety and autonomous driving.
Autoliv’s Electonics segment has grown rapidly and today represents more than 20% of the company’s annual revenues. It was only around fifteen years ago that Autoliv made its first entry in the automotive electronics market. Since then, Autoliv has grown to become a leader in certain segments of the automotive electronics market, particularly with respect to active safety products and technologies for autonomous driving as well as passive safety electronics.
BMW i Ventures Invests in Caroobi
BMW i Ventures has announced a strategic investment in Caroobi, the leading European online repair shop for cars. Caroobi’s mission is to simplify and improve the automotive aftersales customer experience.
Caroobi works with over 400 certified auto repair shops across Germany, Switzerland and Austria. With just a few clicks, car owners can book car repairs at a transparent, fixed price. Caroobi’s customers enjoy the comfort of not having to take their car to a auto repair shop for a first inspection. Instead Caroobi offers a remote diagnosis for the car repair via their online platform. The customers then choose if they want to deliver their car to the repair shop themselves or enjoy the convenience of having the car picked up and delivered via a Caroobi partner shop.
Metamoto Funded
Metamoto, Inc., a startup in scalable simulation for autonomous systems, closed its seed round fundraise of $2M. Proceeds will fuel Metamoto’s go-to-market plans. Metamoto’s investor group is headlined by Motus Ventures, who leads the round, and UL, a strategic investor. As part of the deal, Motus Ventures will act as Strategic Advisor for Metamoto, and Robert Seidl, General Manager of Motus Ventures, joins Metamoto’s board.
Skype MS Exchange for BMW Connected
Thursday, at BMW’s annual ‘Innovation Days’ event in Chicago, BMW announced it will expand those services to include Skype for Business, making Skype meetings available in car. This functionality will be integrated and operated via BMW’s iDrive system. The services will be offered in Germany, France and the U.K., with other markets coming soon.
There are more than 100 million commercial monthly active users of Office 365 and many of those businesspeople use Skype for Business to facilitate meetings and calls at work. Using those services on the go will be even easier with BMW’s cars that have the ability to alert the driver of upcoming meetings, give a heads-up that a meeting has been rescheduled, or offer to start the next meeting without the need to dial a phone – a task no one should be doing while driving. Microsoft Exchange will also integrate calendars, to-do lists and contacts using the car’s voice and navigation systems.
Dieter May, BMW senior vice president, Digital Products and Services, says, “With BMW Connected we offer a wide range of digital services designed to help users with their daily mobility needs inside and outside of the car. We seek to continuously extend and enhance the customer experience with regard to all aspects of their mobility. The integration of productivity features in-car (like Exchange and Skype for Business) and personalized and contextual services will help customers with their day-to-day work and planning while they are on the road.”
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