Future Volkswagen vehicles will have the tech and connectivity to put this company in line with other automakers through a Blackberry software system.
Building electric vehicles aren’t enough for any automaker. Once they’ve got one of these advanced electric marvels on the road, the idea is to ensure all models are connected in some way. This means developing a cloud-based system for over-the-air updates and warning systems to ensure the greatest level of digital safety and security on the road. VW has partnered with Blackberry to make this a reality.
Didn’t We Throw Away All of Our Blackberry Devices?
Some of the old messaging devices that came about before smartphones were referred to as Blackberries because the company that made them is Blackberry. While you might have thought this Canadian tech company was obsolete and no longer in operation, they are alive and well. In fact, Blackberry already supplies tech to Ford for the operating systems in many of the EVs offers. VW is the next new auto brand to use the Blackberry tech in its cars of the future, which should ensure a seamless and easy transition of information and software whenever needed.
Volkswagen Needs to Catch Up
There’s almost always going to be another company ahead of the rest. The automotive world is a large game of leapfrog, with each company working to catch up, surpass, and then be passed by the rest. Currently, Tesla and Ford lead the way when it comes to the EV market and the new vehicle operating systems being used. VW should be the next to take that leap over the rest of the models with the development of its new software systems. The VW.OS system will be the operating system used and the VW.AC will be the automotive cloud that allows all VW brands to create a digital, connected umbrella of information.
How Connected Should Our Cars Become?
Can you imagine a world with your car being as connected and advanced as you are? Some of us get a little creeped out by the fact that our smartphones hear our conversations and immediately offer ads associated with what we’ve been talking about. While this isn’t where connected cars are going, the idea behind cars being connected should be the next step toward an autonomous driving future. Don’t get it wrong; autonomous driving won’t be an accepted reality until proper regulations are in place, but that doesn’t prevent automakers from connecting their cars via cloud-based data systems.
When VW and Blackberry put their systems together, we should have a vehicle that allows us to download apps, make your vehicle function differently from cars that aren’t connected, and offer the updates needed. Some cars require drivers to pay extra for subscription services right now, but future models will simply have the cost of these connected services built into the price. That might mean more expensive models, but some cars won’t operate properly without being connected via cloud-based services.
What is the Software Development Power for VW
CARIAD is the software development powerhouse of Volkswagen. This company builds the new software and system for the VW.OS and VW.AC systems. The VW.OS system is something relatively familiar to most of us. This is the operating system of future Volkswagen models, and it is similar to Windows on your computer and the Android smartphone system you use every day. The program will allow human and machine interface to ensure controls function properly and you’re receiving desired results from your vehicle and the digital systems used in the vehicle.
The VW.AC system is the automotive cloud that will be used for all Volkswagen vehicles. The primary initial function of this cloud is to deliver updates to the software in connected VW models as needed. This will also be the hub of data and information delivery which could mean communication from vehicle to a vehicle through cloud-based data. The only drawback to having a proprietary cloud for Volkswagen is a lack of information shared across different automakers. We can speculate that before autonomous driving becomes acceptable, a central could for communication across all auto brands will be required for complete communication and connected driving.
If CARIAD is the Brains, Where Does Blackberry Come In?
CARIAD couldn’t do what it needs to in the Volkswagen vehicles without the use of the Blackberry QNX system. This system is already integrated into many Ford vehicles and will be part of the VW models going forward. The QNX system serves as the base OS layer for the VW.OS. This system functions perfectly with the hardware, memory management, and processing systems. This base layer allows the advanced driver assistance systems to function smoothly and warn drivers of potential dangers. CARIAD expects to expand the functionality of the QNX system in future VW models.
We Will See These Upgrades Sooner Than Expected
The speed of technological advancements is much faster than anyone could have anticipated twenty or thirty years ago. We might joke that some movies gave us timelines that we haven’t met yet, but on the other hand, it doesn’t seem that long ago when there weren’t any computers built into the cars we drive. The future of driving brings an entirely computer-based operation to the vehicles we take on the road every day. This means automakers must keep up with is why VW and CARIAD are employing the Blackberry QNX system.
A Fluid Future Allows for Individuality
Right now, if you want a vehicle that’s unique to you, what you’ve got to do is customize it with your choice of features that change its driving patterns, power levels, and features. Future vehicles might look the same on the outside, but the selected upgrades and OTA features could mean two models that look identical are extremely different. This fluid nature of the future could allow parents to have family-based functions while single adults stick to functions that suit them. Technology can bring these functions to our vehicles; it will be exciting to see what the future of digital driving has for us.
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