Next-gen in-vehicle infotainment concept powered by Android

This adaptive UI design concept is a cost-saving feature that will allow OEMs to optimise their system engineering investments and customise the infotainment system across vehicle line-ups.

Using a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Am processor, this concept system is based on the latest version of the Android operating system (7.0 Nougat), which is designed to provide automakers with a high-performing platform to quickly develop cloud-connected infotainment systems, helping accelerate the rate of innovation in both the in-vehicle infotainment experience as well as the connected car. The concept system will demonstrate how new connected services and applications will deliver a safety-focused and intuitive driving experience to consumers.

The next-generation infotainment demonstration takes advantage of the high-performing connectivity, multimedia and graphics capabilities integrated into the Snapdragon 820Am automotive processor, including integrated X12 LTE modem supporting up to 600Mbps downlink and 150Mbps uplink speeds, integrated location services, power-efficient, custom-built quad-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU, Qualcomm Hexagon 680 DSP, Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU for video processing capabilities and support for multiple high-definition displays.

Tom Gebhardt, President at Panasonic Automotive, said: “From the beginning, our goal was to create an IVI system that shortened production time, minimised development cost for major OEMs globally, and allowed for more efficient IVI evolutions as time and technology changes in mobility.”

Gebhardt continued: “Through working with Qualcomm Technologies and Google we were able to accomplish that goal, resulting in an infotainment system concept that is innovative and future proof. This concept should be considered ‘skip generation’ IVI technology, meaning that we expect it include features beyond that of the next two IVI generations ahead.” 

During CES, Panasonic Automotive and Qualcomm Technologies plan to showcase this latest IVI system built upon Android’s automotive features that control in-vehicle functions such as HVAC, and demonstrate the integration of Google's services and popular Android applications with the system.

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Automotive, Qualcomm Technologies, Patrick Little said: “This has been an exciting collaboration of industry leaders where our combined technologies, innovations and engineering efforts have enabled us to demonstrate superior, highly intuitive, in-car infotainment systems.”

Little continued: “We look forward to continuing to work with Panasonic Automotive and Google to continually advance our Snapdragon automotive solutions to bring to life the advanced features and services of the Android experience.”

"Android has evolved into a turn-key automotive platform that enables automakers and suppliers to build powerful next-generation IVI systems,” said Patrick Brady, Director of Android Engineering, Google. “We are excited to see industry leaders like Panasonic Automotive and Qualcomm Technologies integrate Android deeply with the car to provide drivers with a seamless connected experience."

This next generation IVI system concept features the Panasonic Automotive passenger application, which is designed to address the challenges that passengers have when entering navigation destinations or controlling music.

Car manufacturers, automotive suppliers and developers can create Android-powered infotainment solutions initially with Qualcomm Technologies’ Automotive Development Platforms (ADP), which utilises Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive system-on-chips, followed by production systems developed and manufactured by Panasonic Automotive.

The concept IVI system is currently on display at the Panasonic Booth (LVCC, Central Hall, 12908) throughout the duration of CES 2017, and also at the Qualcomm automotive booth (North Hall, #5609).