12 posts tagged with "Automotive"

Only a handful of tractors are available ex-factory as autonomy-ready: Japanese manufacturers Kubota and Yanmar were the first to offer autonomous tractors commercially in Japan, followed by Monarch Tractor and John Deere. Most other manufacturers are developing driver-optional models, and most autonomous tractors and prototypes still have a cab, so they can be used as usual and driven between fields on public roads.

Big data in the automotive industry means managing the huge data flows of connected and autonomous vehicles: Gartner estimated that by 2025 manufacturers would collect 1 GB of data a month from connected vehicles, while SAE Level 3-5 autonomous vehicles generate 1 TB every hour. Mative already processes tens of gigabytes of real-time data every day, with solutions that collect, analyze and leverage connected vehicle data for rapid decisions and innovative mobility services.

The CAN bus is a two-wire network (CAN low and CAN high) that lets every electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle or machine communicate with all the others, without complex dedicated wiring. Data travels in CAN frames, each with a CAN ID and a data payload: to use it you connect a CAN logger (in most cars through the OBD2 port) and decode the raw frames into physical values such as km/h or °C.

Car rental companies use software to handle online booking, fleet management, customer relationships and payments, and to let customers skip the counter. This article shows how Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz and Avis Budget Group apply it, from mobile check-in and predictive fleet optimization to dynamic pricing, self-service kiosks, digital keys and telematics-based predictive maintenance.

Car sharing gives people on-demand access to vehicles without owning one, through mobile apps and software platforms that handle reservations, vehicle access and payments. This article looks at three models: Zipcar, with hourly or daily rentals; Car2Go, focused on one-way trips with per-minute pricing; and Turo, a peer-to-peer marketplace connecting owners and renters.

Driver insurance protects against the financial consequences of accidents, theft and other unforeseen events, and insurers rely on software to manage policies, claims and customer service. This article shows how Progressive, Geico and Allstate use telematics-based usage-based insurance, digital claims with photo-based damage assessment, virtual assistants and mobile apps with roadside assistance.

Electric vehicles offer zero tailpipe emissions, more energy-efficient motors, lower fuel and maintenance costs, less dependence on fossil fuels and regenerative braking. Their main drawbacks are a shorter driving range, limited charging infrastructure in some areas, longer charging times, higher upfront costs and battery degradation over time.

Fleet inspections are regular vehicle checks that keep a fleet safe, compliant with regulations and efficient, and catch problems early enough for proactive maintenance. This article explains why they matter, gives example pre-trip, post-trip and periodic maintenance checklists, and lists software such as Fleetio, Whip Around, Fleet Complete and RTA that digitize the process.

The main alternatives to fossil fuels are electric vehicles, biofuels and hydrogen fuel cells, each needing its own infrastructure and technology to spread. Petroleum, coal and natural gas remain widely used, and their impact can be reduced with fuel efficiency standards, hybrid vehicles, carbon capture and storage, renewable natural gas and a shift to clean energy.

Keyless systems let users enter buildings, vehicles and other assets without physical keys, authenticating them with technologies such as biometrics, RFID and mobile apps. This article looks at three examples: Kisi, cloud-based access control for offices; Openpath, hands-free access with mobile credentials and Bluetooth; and August Smart Lock, keyless entry for homes.