In connected car news are IonQ, University of Chicago, LoJack, Seeing Machines, Bosch, Teradar and Harman.
In this Article
IonQ & U of Chicago Launch IonQ Center
IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in quantum computing, announced a strategic partnership with the University of Chicago to establish the IonQ Center for Engineering and Science on campus. The initiative includes deployment of a next-generation quantum computer and entanglement-distribution quantum network, giving university researchers access to IonQ’s advanced hardware and software tools.
The collaboration will drive joint research in quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security, fostering real-world applications and generating intellectual property to support IonQ’s commercial growth. IonQ will also become a core partner of the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), joining major institutions such as Argonne, Fermilab, and Northwestern.
The new center will anchor Chicago’s expanding quantum ecosystem and support the construction of a state-of-the-art research facility housing the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. IonQ’s broader goal is to develop quantum systems capable of reaching 2 million qubits by 2030, enabling breakthroughs in drug discovery, materials science, finance, cybersecurity, and defense.
LoJack Wins
Solera announced that its LoJack platform has been named “Vehicle Tracking Solution of the Year” in the 2025 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards, recognizing top innovators in global automotive technology.
LoJack, a leading stolen vehicle recovery and connected telematics system, unites drivers, dealers, and nearly 10,000 law enforcement partners on one secure network. Its Law Enforcement App (LoJack LE) provides officers with real-time GPS tracking, speed, and direction data within seconds of a theft alert—enabling faster, safer recoveries and improved interagency collaboration.
Beyond theft recovery, LoJack offers consumers 24/7 vehicle tracking, trip history, and health monitoring via its mobile app, while dealers benefit from streamlined lot management and connected car capabilities.
Solera CFO and Managing Director Alberto Cairo said LoJack has evolved GPS recovery into a nationwide operational tool, enhancing public safety and disrupting vehicle theft networks. The award underscores LoJack’s leadership in vehicle lifecycle management and its role in shaping the future of connected mobility.
Seeing Machines Launches “Attention Sharing” Feature
Seeing Machines has introduced a new distraction-detection capability called “attention sharing” in its Guardian Generation 3 aftermarket safety system. The feature is the first globally available tool that measures not only where a driver is looking but how much cumulative time their eyes are off the road—capturing rapid, repeated glances to phones or cabin systems that traditional monitoring systems often miss.
The technology tracks real-time eye-gaze behavior to identify high-risk distraction patterns while minimizing false alarms. Available now on all new Guardian Gen 3 units and rolling out over the air to existing installations, attention sharing aims to help fleets intervene earlier and reduce crash risk. Seeing Machines says the feature marks a major advance in commercial driver safety, building on its AI-powered monitoring system already used worldwide to prevent fatigue- and distraction-related incidents.
Bosch-Led ConnRAD V2X Communication
A Bosch-led consortium has completed the three-year ConnRAD research project, developing methods to assess and ensure the reliability of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication for automated driving. The project focused on mechanisms that allow vehicles to verify the trustworthiness of transmitted data, enabling safety-critical driving functions like automated left turns at urban intersections. Testing showed that providing vehicles with detailed metadata from multiple sensors—rather than blanket clearance information—significantly improves safety.
The project also created a communication architecture addressing cybersecurity, functional safety, and regulatory requirements, with extensions to existing message protocols for continuous evaluation of transmitted data. Partners contributed innovations such as hardware-based authentication using cellular component signatures and teleoperated driving solutions optimized for low-bandwidth communication. The consortium included Bosch, Daimler, Fraunhofer Institutes, Infineon Technologies, Technical University of Munich, and other academic and industry partners.
Teradar to Advance Terahertz Vision Sensors
Boston-based Teradar has raised $150 million in Series B funding to develop terahertz vision sensors for automotive applications, emerging from stealth mode to unveil its commercial sensing technology. The company’s Modular Terahertz Engine—a solid-state chip architecture—transmits, receives, and processes terahertz waves, offering up to 20 times the resolution of current automotive radar systems and reliable operation in all weather conditions.
Teradar is collaborating with five automotive manufacturers in the U.S. and Europe, along with three tier-one suppliers, and aims to secure a vehicle production program by 2028. The sensors are designed to enhance advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and support autonomous driving from Level 1 to Level 5, enabling vehicles to detect hazards with unprecedented accuracy and improve overall safety.
Harman’s Ready Display Certification
Harman, a Samsung subsidiary, has earned the first HDR10+ Automotive certification for its Ready Display product line, confirming the displays’ ability to reproduce high dynamic range (HDR) content under varied in-cabin lighting conditions. The certification validates HDR10+ Adaptive capabilities, which adjust brightness, contrast, and color in real time to maintain visual quality from direct sunlight to nighttime driving.
Developed in collaboration with Samsung and Panasonic, the Ready Display line—including the NQ3, NQ5, and NQ7 series—uses Neo QLED technology and advanced image processing to deliver consistent, immersive visuals. The displays support both passenger entertainment and driver navigation, setting a new benchmark for automotive in-cabin display performance.