Samsung and HARMAN Release Videos on Smart Vehicle Platforms

Samsung and HARMAN have released eight new videos which give viewers an in-depth look a the connected vehicle technologies platform that the two companies unveiled at CES 2018. The videos are meant to emphasize the scalability of the platforms for making vehicles of different sizes. They cover the subject of what consumers can expect from smart cars and their IoT-centric nature. They cover aspects ranging from a smart vehicle chassis and shells to integration of smart features in adaptive interactive audio experiences and other features which can be adjusted based on the rider or driver’s mood. All the videos focus on the Snap ecosystem that Samsung and Harman developed.

Snap is a concept platform comprising the chassis, which is called the skateboard, and an outer shell called the pod. Both the skateboard and the pod can be customized depending on their intended use which can range from being a mobile office space to just a way to get people from one destination to another. They also integrate Samsung’s telematics-driven DRVLine vehicle automation platform. Another unique feature of the concept unique is that it facilitates a secure custom experience for each individual user as soon as they enter the vehicle.

The variant that was displayed at CES also incorporated SoftBank’s A.I.-powered Pepper bot for personalized person-to-vehicle interaction, which can be individualized for each passenger. The platform pulls in the cloud profile of each rider or driver to make adjustments, like the music or entertainment of their choice. In case, it is a group of users and not just one individual, shared playlists are made available and each passenger can choose to watch their very own movie over a 5G connection if would rather watch something they like and not interact with other passengers in the vehicle. Passengers need not worry about data security as the passenger data can be removed from the vehicle securely when they exit. Hence, this platform is ideal for autonomous ride-sharing services.

Some of the other innovative adaptive technologies the two companies displayed at CES 2018 included a scalable unified cockpit design, a display dubbed Moodscape, and customizable audio experiences. Each can be used individually or in conjunction with one another.

The digital cockpit platform facilitates a more personalized experience with the aid of connected screens that are scalable to suit the needs of an automaker. While the entry-level platform can drive up to three displays at once, in the premium segment, it can support up to seven displays. Functions available include touch displays like those for making adjustments to the radio or navigation. Other displays are incorporated into things such as temperature control knobs or a vehicle’s speedometer.

Moodscape embeds a QLED display in the ceiling of the car which can be used for controlling the lighting or showing a video. This is connected to the system by which the AI system in the car can assess the mood of passengers and a vehicle’s stereo system. The comprehensive and customizable audio tuning suite is called AudioworX. In some configurations, the audio can be further customized through a new range of “shapeshifting” speakers and rotatable soundbars thus taking individualization to in-car audio to a new level.