In connected car news are HARMAN, KPIT, ZF, QORIX and Volvo.
HARMAN Approved by FCC to C-2VX in 5.9 GHz
HARMAN International, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics and leader in developing end-to-end connected vehicle solutions, was one of the select few companies recently approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate roadside and on-board cellular-vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technologies within the 5.9 GHz band in the United States. As a result, American road users, city planners, highway administrators and more can now experience the enhanced roadway safety and efficiency benefits delivered by these game-changing technologies. HARMAN’s C-V2X solutions are among the most advanced in the industry, and will support building safer roads, relieving traffic congestion, and improving sustainability.
“Nearly 43,000 fatalities occurred due to vehicle traffic crashes in the United States last year,” said Ram Iyer, Senior Vice President of Connectivity at HARMAN. “The joint waiver approval could not have come soon enough, and together with Samsung, HARMAN brings a high degree of product maturity, readiness, and scale to address this tragic and preventable roadway epidemic.”
“The FCC’s decision marks a significant step forward, but we will continue to advocate for wide-scale deployment of C-V2X as industry stakeholders join forces to build a smarter, safer, and more sustainable transportation future,” said Tom Mooney, Head of Government Affairs at HARMAN. “Now the real work begins of ensuring these lifesaving technologies get on U.S. roadways as soon as possible. The good news is, we’re already engaged across the transportation ecosystem to make that happen.”
In its decision, the FCC notes that “permitting C-V2X technologies to deploy now, prior to adoption of final C-V2X rules, will serve the public interest by advancing vehicular safety and promoting interoperability.”
HARMAN and Samsung share a commitment to safety and protecting vulnerable road users through innovative products such as HARMAN Savari MECWAVE, an industry-first edge computing platform that delivers an out-of-the box, end-to-end solution for virtualized infrastructure, enabling smarter, more connected experiences for roadway users and operators. By functioning on the edge with ultra-low latency, MECWAVE accelerates the deployment of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, including safety-critical applications like hazard alerts to protect vulnerable road users, along with high-throughput connectivity experiences like interactive applications and video streaming.
MECWAVE is complemented by two additional HARMAN Savari solutions, including:
- HARMAN Savari StreetWAVE roadside unit: A critical node for vehicular connectivity, leveraging wireless technologies such as 5G or CBRS for backhaul and C-V2X technologies to enable a communication framework between infrastructure and vehicles.
- HARMAN Savari MobiWAVE wireless vehicular on-board unit: Combines existing telematics control units with V2X services to reduce traffic-related emergencies through functionalities including ASD, “Here I Am” device and more.
With physical security and efficiency top of mind, HARMAN is delivering compelling mobility experiences at the leading edge of technology. Leveraged together or independently, MECWAVE, StreetWAVE and MobiWAVE are enabling holistic, turn-key mobility solutions that will have a tangible impact in improving the safety of drivers, passengers, and the world around them.
KPIT & ZF Join to Promote QORIX for Middleware
KPIT Technologies, a leading independent software development and integration partner to the automotive and mobility industry, and ZF Group, a global technology company supplying systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and industrial technology, agreed to promote an independent company named QORIX to develop and distribute open and scalable middleware products and solutions for the mobility ecosystem.
QORIX is currently a subsidiary of KPIT, fully focused on Middleware solution development. ZF shall invest 50% towards equity in QORIX pending regulatory approvals. It will build on the expertise and relevant IPs of KPIT and ZF to develop open and scalable automotive middleware platforms and solutions for the mobility ecosystem. Hence, both partners will bring cash and assets/IP towards their contribution. This builds on sustained investment by KPIT and ZF in this area. Active engagement has already started with select OEM clients and other Tier 1s and technology companies.
This independent company will address the significant gap in the availability of a mature, modular, integrated middleware solution that allows mobility OEMs to manage the ever-increasing software complexity while retaining complete control of the architecture. The lack of such a solution can delay vehicle SOP and escalate technology spends.
Plug and Play for Volvo
Volvo Cars and the global innovation platform driver Plug and Play have teamed up to bring cutting-edge technology for sustainable mobility closer to the dynamic Scandinavian region. As a first tangible result of the partnership, Plug and Play has opened a new innovation platform in Volvo Cars’ hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Volvo Cars is a founding partner of the new platform, which is expected to engage more than 500 startups every year, and additional partners will be joining over time.
Plug and Play helps blue chip companies around the globe connect with a collection of strategically selected startups. With over 50 locations globally, the company oversees an ecosystem of more than 50,000 startups and 500 partners with an impressive list of alumni, such as Dropbox, Paypal, Trulioo, and Rappi.