Qualcomm Technologies has introduced new or enhanced products to its rapidly expanding automotive technology range.
Further enhancing the Digital Chassis connected vehicle platforms, it introduced a feature for Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud Services – Connectivity-as-a-Service – that brings new technology collaborations to support connectivity, integrated analytics and a cloud and device developer environment aimed to deliver new technology features, content and services globally.
As integral components of the Digital Chassis, the Auto Connectivity Platform and Car-to-Cloud Services help build connected and intelligent vehicles that are safer, customisable, immersive and continually upgradeable.
The supplier has also launched an integrated application framework for developing telematics and cloud-connected applications and services, the Telematics Applications Framework. Also introduced was a new Wi-Fi 6E automotive chipset engineered to increase bandwidth for Wi-Fi applications and deliver content at unmatched speeds.
“These latest enhancements empower automakers to redefine the driving experience for consumers, while also creating opportunities for the automotive ecosystem to develop and deliver new, revenue-generating digital services,” the supplier said in a statement.
Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud Services provide a seamless upgrade path with the ability to expand system performance and features, while also having the capability to enable new digital services. Connectivity-as-a-Service expands these capabilities to provide global connectivity on Telematics SOC-based NAD modules along with an API-driven developer environment, creating on-device and cloud-enhanced apps/services. Fueled by telemetry data and advanced data insights from connected vehicles, the tools provided in the developer environment solve for complexities that OEMs face when building connected services on telematics hardware.
New collaborations include Cognizant, a leading professional services company using its global automotive cloud and device expertise to help transform automakers into modern enterprises. Leveraging its deep understanding of the auto industry and proven reusable components, ready-to-use test frameworks and system integration expertise, Cognizant will work with Qualcomm to integrate and tailor Car-to-Cloud Services for automakers.
Qualcomm will also work with Cubic Telecom, a global connectivity solutions provider. The product created from Car-to-Cloud Services with Cubic’s software products (Pace, Insights and PLXOR) provides a single point of control for global connectivity on Telematics SOC based NAD modules, with support for bundled data and services. The product also solves for regional regulation complexities with built-in compliance across regional markets.
Integrated into the Snapdragon Auto Connectivity Platform, the Snapdragon Telematics Application Framework is utilized to simplify application development. Open source and scalable, this set of software tools is designed to seamlessly connect to Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud Services, allowing automotive developers to use telematics functionality across all platforms within the Snapdragon Digital Chassis. Through the Snapdragon Telematics Application Framework, developers can access a unified development environment with common application programming interfaces (APIs), which aids in reducing cost complexities when integrating technology features such as 5G, location services, memory and security into cloud-based applications and services.
Designed to address fragmentation and enable common application development across vehicle lines, the Telematics Application Framework is compatible with present and future platforms within the Digital Chassis. Anticipated to be available in early 2022, plus ongoing enhancements for new features and services, the new application framework allows developers to focus on their core expertise when creating applications that use telematics functionality to bring rich, immersive experiences with enhanced safety to modern vehicles.
To further increase bandwidth for connected applications and services, Qualcomm introduced the Qualcomm® QCA6698AQ, a Wi-Fi 6E 4-Stream Dual Band Simultaneous (DBS) plus Bluetooth version 5.3 combination chip for automotive applications. Building on the latest FastConnect systems, the QCA6698AQ offers simultaneous 802.11ax Dual MAC operation in both 2.4Ghz and the expanded 5/6GHz band to enable one of the claimed highest Wi-Fi speeds in an AEC-Q100 qualified device. The QCA6698AQ is engineered to deliver in-vehicle entertainment, “exceptional audio experiences”, and to “dramatically” increase bandwidth for concurrent Wi-Fi applications. Samples are available now with automotive grade qualification expected by late 2022.