What Are the Opportunities Associated with Connected Car?

A connected car can bidirectionally communicate with other systems external to the vehicle (LAN).

FREMONT, CA: Automobiles that are connected and the technologies that power them continue to evolve. This reveals a slew of possibilities for improving vehicle efficiency and safety. Simultaneously, cybercriminals continue to devise new ways to compromise connected cars and the technologies they utilize.

The following sections discuss some of the opportunities associated with connected car technologies, such as 5G connectivity and the cloud.

Cars that are connected and 5G

5G opens up new possibilities for connected automobiles.

Automotive will be the primary market for 5G Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The said industry will account for 53 percent of the total 5G IoT endpoint opportunities, with connected cars accounting for 39 percent of opportunities—a significant increase from the 11 percent predicted in 2020.

This illustrates connected cars' increasing reliance on 5G—and with reason. A connected car comprises two primary components: the vehicle itself and how it is connected. The quality of the connection dictates the capabilities of a connected car. Connected cars that use 4G may require a greater level of involvement from the driver to ensure safety and control, particularly at potentially dangerous speeds and in congested areas. On the other hand, 5G can play a critical role in developing autonomous vehicles in the future.

5G is hundred times faster than 4G; whereas a two-hour movie takes around seven minutes to download on 4G, it typically takes less than ten seconds on 5G. 5G's high speed and high quality contribute to the reliability of connected cars.

Everything is accessible via cellular technology (C-V2X)

One of the benefits of connected vehicles is their ability to collect data from the devices in their vicinity and use it to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians, provide convenience, improve traffic management, and perform a variety of other functions. One way to accomplish this is through cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X), which aims to make 5G-capable vehicles more receptive and reactive to their surroundings and the events within them. C-V2X is also compatible with 4G-connected cars, though its primary function in this configuration is to provide traffic notifications and similar functions. The benefits of C-V2X are fully realized in 5G due to the connection's increased speed and quality.

C-V2X is divided into several subsets:

• Vehicle to Cellular Network (V2N)
• Vehicle to Device (V2D)
• Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V)

Automobiles Connected to the Cloud Automobile E/E Architecture based on the Cloud.

Another exciting development is the possibility of moving the vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU) to the cloud. This move would have several advantages, including simplifying the electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture, increasing processing capabilities, and improving road situational awareness. 5G enables the creation of ultra-low latency networks. Additionally, it increases fuel, battery, and emissions efficiency, as well as operational efficiency.

Cloud-based Attacks on Connected Vehicles

Luxury automakers are phasing out physical buttons in favor of fully digital cockpits capable of running third-party applications, as seen in the Tesla Model 3 and 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Indeed, the modern connected car is evolving into a giant smartphone-on-wheels, allowing drivers and passengers to access cloud-connected applications powered by a cloud-connected ecosystem.

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