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Cringely, Cars, and Networks
Boiled Frog writes: "Cringely's latest article talks about Telematics, the art of putting computers in cars. However, the more interesting part is near the end where he talks about mesh networks where every car would have a router in it. I could see this extending digital cell service and mobile network connectivity far into rural areas."
I actually study Telematics, and it's not the art of putting computers in cars. It's simply the application of computing to (long) range communication.
The IETF has already thought of scenarios like the one described (a router in every car). Look at the Mobile Ad-hoc NETwork working group.
The four year time frame is an old saw. It really needs to be put to bed. Drivetrains seem to be developed independent of most autos, and are the parts that take time. Chrysler has managed to drive the actual time to develop the car down to under three years. Toyota has gone from paper to showroom in 22 months. It's highly likely that most manufacturers are not far behind.
The claim is also absurd from a technical standpoint: if you assume that a drive will be available, design around it. Leave a spot big enough for the drive, with standard connectors, mounting, etc...
No, the real problem is nobody wants a fucking computer in the car.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
I work with Telematics as a software systems architect.
The main problems we encounter are:
Coverage.
Only AMPS can provide any kind of decent coverage in the states. This means 1200 BPS and heavy error correction. We use everything from DTMF tones to stripped down V.27 (fax) data bursts to get the message across. No. Sattelites are too expensive.
Driver attention.
If you are driving a vehicle, you should not play around with an interface. There are also regulations on what you can put on the dashboard when it comes to screens etc. Services has to be kept extremely simple. We are just learning to do voice recognition in an automtive environment with noise, radio, screaming kids etc.
Tech cycles.
A car is supported for approx. 10 years by its manufacturer. Which mobile standard should we use, given that GSM, GPRS, or CDMA gets the right coverage? Forget 802.11 where the vehicles act as nodes in a network. 802.11 only works up to 20 km/h
Conservatism.
The automotive industry have change cycles measured in years, if not decades. It's very hard to match up the mentality of that industry with the dynamic and unstable nature of the computer and wireless business.
Today everyone are aiming at deploying boring, basic services such as theft notification with vehicle tracking, roadside assistance, remote door unlock, crash notification etc. BMW in Europe is probably the leader where the roadside assistance call center can update a map with routes that is displayed in the new 700 series. All European solutions, BTW, uses GSM and SMS messages to transmit data. Its store and forward makes it ideal for low bandwidth mobile communication.
Next generation of services will include traffic, food, gas, service info and geo-ads. Cool things like streaming video is faaar down the road.
When we are playing around in the lab, we look at the possibility of using USB keys as storage (MP3 etc) and ignition keys.
We are also looking into the possibilities of using max-bandwidth/least-cost routing that switches between different technologies depending on what coverage you currently have. You would then have a fixed IP-address that acts as a proxy and forwards packets to the vehicle using CDPD, SMS, AMPS or whatever other links you have to the vehicle this 30-second cycle.
Things are happening, but they are not as fast moving as the rest of the Internet/telco business.
I've run 802.11, with video and voice, with speeds around 20mph (~35km/h). Perhaps the range goes down, but it still works. Better yet, we've run the old AT I've long wanted a valet key that only allows the use of so many gears at such a speed... Would also allow greater parental control (kids keys limited to 65mph and hours from 7a-9p or something).
Voice recognition in noise: why not have a "command" button (ala the Motorola v60). Can mount it on the steering wheel...