In order to exhibit the hi-tech in-car information and entertainment, Delphi joins Franco Sbarro the Italian vehicle designer. Vehicle integration and validation are made simple by Delphi technologies while minimising weight and packaging space. At the Geneva International Motor Show, which will be held from 8 March to 18th March, a new advancement in the field of in-car infotainment will be showcased. Delphi is a renowned organisation, which has manufacturing sites, technical centres and customer support centres in 30 countries. For commercial vehicle and other market segments, electronics and technologies are supplied by Delphi.
Delphi Automotive (NYSE: DLPH) along with systems integrator and vehicle electronics specialist and Italian designer Franco Sbarro has innovated an interactive in-car demonstration of advanced infotainment systems. This system enhances the user experience and is capable of providing high speed connectivity. An F1-inspired three seat sports car, the Delphi Sbarro F1for3 promises superb entertainment, advanced information technologies and latest user experience.
TV and internet data can be transferred to passengers’ smartphone or tablet PC due to the advanced technicalities of the car. The sleek ‘black-panel’ centre console has touch sensitive multi-use surfaces, which facilitates users to control comfort and convenience features including infotainment. Reception and connectivity electronics are combined by a slim-line roof module. Wilhelm Steger, European managing director of Delphi Infotainment & Driver Interface said. He further added “Our efforts are geared toward providing features that work seamlessly together and can be accessed easily, safely, reliably and affordably”.
With the advanced reception systems, Delphi is attempting to solve the connectivity issue in areas of poor reception. “It is easy to demonstrate data streaming in a stationary vehicle,” continues Steger. He further added “But it is much more difficult to provide uninterrupted connectivity when travelling at motorway speeds”. Advanced multi-service antenna reception systems offered by Delphi has the capability to integrate transceivers for GSM, GPS, radio, and TV services such as tyre pressure monitoring, eCall and Car-2-Car and keyless entry.
Delphi has provided 4G capability in the F1for3 for providing high-speed internet access to the external devices of the passengers. The F1for3 reception system can be effortlessly installed into the vehicle. It is an element of the slim-line roof module that provides decent place for ambient cabin lighting including camera, WLAN router, and alarm sensors. This F1for3 exhibits technologies and products from MyFi family of connected infotainment solutions of Delphi.
For execution of various features such as natural voice recognition, hands-free system operation, audio streaming and Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular connectivity, an open architecture platform is used by MyFi systems. Local and wide area networks, which are used by remote servers, smart phone apps, and cloud-based services, can be leveraged by MyFi connectivity solutions.
The “F1for 3” comprises a touch-sensitive, ‘black-panel’ centre display, and MyFi multi-function infotainment unit. With USB memory, SD cards, iPod and Bluetooth-enabled devices, this system is compatible. It also simplifies the navigation during journey. By using passengers’ mobile telephone as a data modem or by utilising embedded connectivity system of Delphi, internet connectivity is integrated by this system.
On maps, the services providing information like fuel prices and weather data can be overlaid due to the data connectivity feature. All information can also be viewed on the navigation screen. Delphi’s ‘black-panel’ design is used by the integrated centre display, to provide flexible and unique control features. For various types of applications, these features can be configured easily and quickly.
From a single unit, infotainment and climate control features can be controlled due to the capacitive touch-screen, which is responsive to a single touch. The design minimises packaging space, reduces weight, and simplifies vehicle integration and validation.
The technique of using software modules as system building blocks is extremely effective. It is also possible to customise and use these modules for different configurations. Further, the modules can also be updated easily.
Global director of Engineering for Delphi Infotainment & Driver Interface, Mr. Glen De Vos said “Software building blocks can dramatically reduce system cost and development time, make system updates faster and easier, and allow for a wider range of customer-specified characteristics.” A new multi-core processor helps in the functioning of Delphi MyFi infotainment system architecture on the F1for3, which minimises power consumption and footprint. Even in case of a moving vehicle, it enhances natural language recognition. For next-generation voice recognition, required computing power is provided by this system.
Delphi helps vehicle manufacturers offer active safety systems and infotainment that will provide passengers and drivers the functionalities they require while reducing driver distraction. “Our broad range of expertise makes Delphi a valuable partner for vehicle manufacturers who wish to quickly adopt new technologies,” concludes Steger. “The F1for3 introduces some of our most innovative user experience and connectivity technologies. Delphi’s expertise enables us to provide OEMs with simplified vehicle integration and validation, reduced weight and packaging space.”
Engineers from Delphi’s technical centres in Bad Salzdetfurth and Nuremberg, Germany (infotainment and reception systems), Illkirch, France (mechatronics), and Krakow, Poland (infotainment) are the main contributors to the F1for3. For the interview at Geneva show, technical specialists and business leaders of Delphi would be present.
