German automotive industry goes to war with Google and Apple

“The automotive industry is entering a new era. Eleven leading companies have signed a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding to jointly develop open source software. The main goal is to reduce dependence on technology giants such as Google and Apple.

 

Software is no longer just the operating system of a car, but its heart. This does not only concern applications and infotainment systems, but above all the elements invisible to the driver - such as controlling vehicle functions or safety systems. The German automotive industry wants to break free from the dominance of companies such as Google and Apple and jointly develop a new type of software. The goal is to create functional modules that will not only accelerate development, but also support the standardization process.

 

Especially today, when the complexity of software in cars is growing exponentially, such a step can be a decisive competitive advantage. The cooperation under the auspices of the Eclipse Foundation and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) aims to create an open and transparent ecosystem. The Eclipse Foundation is a Belgian non-profit organization that supports the development of open source projects. In this model, all stakeholders - from manufacturers, through suppliers, to developers - have access to one common platform and can combine their resources.

 

Google and Apple see huge profit potential in the automotive industry. While Google has already entered the market with Android Automotive [1], Apple is developing the CarPlay [2] system and gradually aims to take control of more and more vehicle functions.

 

Software standardization will help reduce the costs of development, e.g. autonomous driving

 

Car manufacturers do not want to give up full control of software to technological giants. The new software is to have a modular structure, enabling easy adaptation and expansion of individual components depending on the needs of specific brands. Joint development of the system will allow for faster development of the whole and more efficient implementation of innovations.

 

Standardization will be particularly important in the context of autonomous driving, for which software is the basis.

 

This approach will not only help the industry stay competitive with the tech giants, but will also lay the foundation for a new era of automotive innovation. With a clear commitment to open standards and transparent development, automotive companies can take control of the future of software, avoiding lock-in to external suppliers.”

 

1. Android Automotive is open source. It is a full-stack, highly customizable platform that is part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This means that the source code is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. While Google also provides Google Automotive Services (GAS) for integration into in-vehicle infotainment systems, the core Android Automotive OS (AAOS) is open source. Automakers can choose to use AAOS with or without GAS.

Key points about Android Automotive's open-source nature:

 

    Full-stack platform:

    Android Automotive is not just an interface; it's a complete operating system that runs directly on the vehicle's hardware.

 

Highly customizable:

Because it's open source, automakers can heavily customize the user interface and other aspects of the system to match their brand and specific needs.

AOSP:

Android Automotive is part of the broader Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

Optional GAS integration:

While Google offers GAS (a collection of apps and services like Google Maps and Assistant), it's not mandatory. Automakers can choose to use just the open-source AAOS and integrate their own services.

 

2. Apple CarPlay is not open source. Access to the CarPlay API requires enrollment in Apple's MFi Program, which is a licensing program for developers of hardware and software, primarily for manufacturers. The program provides access to the necessary tools, documentation, and license to integrate CarPlay into their products.

While the official CarPlay API is not open source, there are open-source projects that aim to provide similar functionality or allow running CarPlay on platforms like Raspberry Pi. These projects often involve reverse-engineering or using the CarPlay protocol in creative ways.

For example, React Carplay is an open-source project that allows users to run a CarPlay-like interface on a Raspberry Pi.

 

Additionally, OkcarOS is an open-source Android-based system for in-car infotainment systems that can be customized and built from source.

Therefore, while the official CarPlay implementation is not open source, there are open-source projects and initiatives that offer similar functionality or allow for experimentation with CarPlay-like interfaces on different platforms.

 

 

 

Vokietijos automobilių pramonė kariauja su „Google“ ir „Apple“

„Automobilių pramonė žengia į naują erą. Vienuolika pirmaujančių įmonių pasirašė novatorišką susitarimo memorandumą, kuriuo siekiama kartu kurti atvirojo kodo programinę įrangą. Pagrindinis tikslas – sumažinti priklausomybę nuo tokių technologijų gigantų, kaip „Google“ ir „Apple“.

 

Programinė įranga nebėra tik automobilio operacinė sistema, bet ir jo širdis. Tai liečia ne tik programas ir informacines bei pramogines sistemas, bet ir visų pirma vairuotojui nematomus elementus – tokius, kaip transporto priemonės funkcijų valdymas ar saugos sistemos. Vokietijos automobilių pramonė nori išsivaduoti iš tokių įmonių, kaip „Google“ ir „Apple“, dominavimo ir kartu kurti naujo tipo programinę įrangą. Tikslas – sukurti funkcinius modulius, kurie ne tik paspartintų kūrimą, bet ir palaikytų standartizacijos procesą.

 

Ypač šiandien, kai automobilių programinės įrangos sudėtingumas auga eksponentiškai, toks žingsnis gali būti lemiamas konkurencinis pranašumas. Bendradarbiavimas, globojamas „Eclipse Foundation“ ir Vokietijos automobilių pramonės asociacijos (VDA), siekia sukurti atvirą ir skaidrią ekosistemą. „Eclipse Foundation“ yra Belgijos ne pelno siekianti organizacija, remianti atvirojo kodo projektų kūrimą. Šiame modelyje visos suinteresuotosios šalys – nuo gamintojų, per tiekėjus, iki kūrėjų – turi prieigą prie vienos bendros platformos ir gali sujungti savo išteklius.

 

„Google“ ir „Apple“ mato didžiulį pelno potencialą automobilių pramonėje. Nors „Google“ jau įžengė į rinką su „Android Automotive“ [1], „Apple“ kuria „CarPlay“ [2] sistemą ir palaipsniui siekia perimti vis daugiau transporto priemonių funkcijų kontrolę.

 

Programinės įrangos standartizavimas padės sumažinti kūrimo išlaidas, pvz., autonominio vairavimo

 

Automobilių gamintojai nenori visiškai perleisti programinės įrangos kontrolės technologijų gigantams.

 

Naujoji programinė įranga turės modulinę struktūrą, kuri leis lengvai pritaikyti ir išplėsti atskirus komponentus, priklausomai nuo konkrečių prekių ženklų poreikių. Bendras sistemos kūrimas leis greičiau sukurti visą sistemą ir efektyviau įdiegti inovacijas.

 

Standartizavimas bus ypač svarbus autonominio vairavimo kontekste, kurio pagrindas yra programinė įranga.

 

Toks požiūris ne tik padės pramonei išlikti konkurencingai su technologijų gigantais, bet ir padės pamatus naujai automobilių inovacijų erai. Aiškiai įsipareigojusios atviriems standartams ir skaidriam kūrimui, automobilių įmonės gali perimti programinės įrangos ateities kontrolę, vengdamos priklausomybės nuo išorinių tiekėjų."

 

1. „Android Automotive“ yra atvirojo kodo. Tai visavertė, labai pritaikoma platforma, kuri yra „Android Open Source Project“ (AOSP) dalis. Tai reiškia, kad šaltinio kodas yra laisvai prieinamas visiems, jį gali naudoti, modifikuoti ir platinti. Nors „Google“ taip pat teikia „Google Automotive Services“ (GAS), skirtas integravimui į transporto priemonėse esančias informacijos ir pramogų sistemas, pagrindinė „Android Automotive OS“ (AAOS) yra atvirojo kodo. Automobilių gamintojai gali pasirinkti naudoti AAOS su GAS arba be jo.

 

Pagrindiniai „Android Automotive“ atvirojo kodo pobūdžio aspektai:

 

Visavertė platforma:

 

„Android Automotive“ yra ne tik sąsaja; tai visavertė operacinė sistema, veikianti tiesiai transporto priemonės aparatinėje įrangoje.

 

Labai pritaikoma:

Kadangi tai atvirojo kodo sistema, automobilių gamintojai gali labai pritaikyti vartotojo sąsają ir kitus sistemos aspektus, kad jie atitiktų savo prekės ženklą ir konkrečius poreikius.

 

AOSP:

„Android Automotive“ yra platesnio „Android Open Source Project“ (AOSP) dalis.

 

Pasirinktinai integruojama su GAS:

Nors „Google“ siūlo GAS (programėlių ir paslaugų, tokių, kaip „Google Maps“ ir „Assistant“, rinkinį), tai nėra privaloma. Automobilių gamintojai gali pasirinkti naudoti tik atvirojo kodo AAOS ir integruoti savo paslaugas.

 

2. „Apple CarPlay“ nėra atvirojo kodo. Norint pasiekti „CarPlay“ API, reikia užsiregistruoti „Apple MFi“ programoje – licencijavimo programoje, skirtoje aparatinės ir programinės įrangos kūrėjams, pirmiausia gamintojams. Programa suteikia prieigą prie reikiamų įrankių, dokumentacijos ir licencijų, skirtų „CarPlay“ integruoti į savo produktus.

 

Nors oficiali „CarPlay“ API nėra atvirojo kodo, yra atvirojo kodo projektų, kuriais siekiama suteikti panašias funkcijas arba leisti „CarPlay“ veikti tokiose platformose, kaip „Raspberry Pi“. Šie projektai dažnai apima atvirkštinę inžineriją arba kūrybišką „CarPlay“ protokolo naudojimą.

 

Pavyzdžiui, „React Carplay“ yra atvirojo kodo projektas, leidžiantis vartotojams paleisti „CarPlay“ tipo sąsają „Raspberry Pi“.

 

Be to, „OkcarOS“ yra atvirojo kodo „Android“ pagrindu sukurta sistema automobilių informacinėms ir pramoginėms sistemoms, kurią galima pritaikyti ir kurti iš šaltinio kodo.

Todėl, nors oficiali „CarPlay“ versija nėra atvirojo kodo, yra atvirojo kodo projektų ir iniciatyvų, kurios siūlo panašias funkcijas arba leidžia eksperimentuoti su „CarPlay“ tipo sąsajomis skirtingose ​​platformose.

 

 

 

Sharp price drop expected: Robotic household helper for €15,000

 

"Whether this robot from the manufacturer Engineered Arts can manage the household is questionable.

 

Humanoid household helpers are on the rise. They could soon play a role economically as well. However, Germans are still divided on what to think of the technology.

 

In the next ten years, more and more Germans are likely to turn to robotic household helpers. According to the consumer electronics association GFU and the strategy consultancy Oliver Wyman, this is primarily due to the likely sharp decline in the costs of the devices.

 

The main factor holding back household robots is currently price, and this obstacle will disappear, says Wyman partner Martin Schulte: "The cost of a humanoid robot will more than halve by 2035" – from currently around €35,000 to €15,000. He expects "commercially relevant breakthroughs" for household robotics providers, especially in trades and gardening.

 

On Tuesday, the German Federal Institute for the Environment (GFU) and Oliver Wyman presented the results of a study on Germans' attitudes toward robot vacuum cleaners, humanoid chefs, and automated care assistants. According to the study, the topic polarizes the population. 37 percent of respondents expressed their approval, while 36 percent say a robot will not be coming into their home in the next five to ten years. A good quarter are neutral about the technology. From this, the study's authors conclude that "two-thirds of German consumers have recognized the advantages of household robots."

 

Reservations about babysitting robots

 

However, acceptance varies depending on age, income, and gender. While younger people would prefer to be assisted by household robots, those over 55 are more skeptical. People who already spend money on cleaning staff, gardeners, caregivers, or babysitters are particularly open to this idea. Support in areas such as security or gardening is generating particularly high levels of interest. In contrast, many are more reserved when it comes to personal matters such as personal hygiene. Robotic babysitting is met with strong reservations: Men approve of this at 36 percent, compared to 20 percent of women.

 

Generally, approval increases with income. While 50 to 60 percent of respondents with an annual income of less than €30,000 could imagine robotic assistance, the figure is 70 to 80 percent among those with an annual income of at least €80,000. A common concern is the expectation that household robots will make them overly dependent on technology and thus compromise their own abilities. Data protection concerns are also frequently expressed, as are fears of injury or damage due to malfunction.

 

No "futuristic visions" please

 

The bottom line is that the industry association GFU, which will once again host the IFA consumer electronics trade fair in Berlin in September, draws promising robotics opportunities for European home appliance manufacturers from the survey results. Respondents would rather buy a helper device from them than, for example, from tech generalists or AI companies. "What's crucial are functional, reliable solutions that actually make everyday life easier, not futuristic visions," says Managing Director Sara Warneke.

 

Other studies also see robotic household helpers on the rise. A study by the University of Oxford and Japan's Ochanomizu University concludes that 40 percent of household chores—such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping—could be automated within a decade. However, experts disagree on when the technology will ultimately achieve its breakthrough in the mass market. Forecasts range from a few years to several decades.”