It was recently announced that Google has collaborated with Nvidia, the company behind the first GPU, and several major car manufacturers, to form the Open Automotive Alliance. Members include Audi, General Motors and Honda.
Meanwhile, Apple has also teamed up with several automotive manufacturers.
Centred around the familiar Android platform, rather than a range of platforms from each manufacturer, it should provide some exciting opportunities for Android developers. Nvidia had already highlighted how it’s supercomputer grade Tegra processor can power apps for infotainment and navigation, personalised digital instrument clusters, driver assistance systems, and rear seat entertainment.
Opportunities for android developers include creating apps for advanced HUD navigation, interactive dashboards, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warnings, assisted parking and night vision. Surround cameras and powerful video processing will facilitate advanced driver assistance systems.
Undoubtably any apps developed for in car usage will need to undergo extremely rigorous testing, and it remains to be seen whether the play store will be a part of the in car android experience in some form.
We have already seen innovative use of hardware sensors in phone apps, and this is an area that looks well suited or easily adapted to the many sensors found within cars. Exciting potential areas of interest for developers include integration with online databases with vehicle records to provide in-car reminders, fuel payments automatically debited from designated payments gateways upon refueling, and smarter quickest route apps, which are aware of traffic statistics dynamically generated in real time by other vehicles in the vicinity.
This technology will also provide many opportunities for UI designers and Nvidia have showcased the UI Composer Studio design tool on their website. The tool incorporates 3D capabilities providing the means to photorealistically render carbon fibre, metals and glass.
Cars featuring this technology should become available by the end of 2014, and it certainly looks like an interesting stepping stone towards the driverless car.