Carmudi Monthly 009 | Page 17

AA has launched a groundbreaking new device called “Car Genie,” which according to the company can predict vehicle breakdowns before they occur. The device comes together with an app that’s freely available for download for both iOS and Android phones. The company claims that this new app and device will not only predict vehicle malfunctions but will also help users improve their driving skills that will lead to a better fuel economy in the long term.

Car Genie is designed to be self-installed and should be plugged into the vehicle's on-board diagnostics (OBDII) port. This enables the device to tap into the vehicle’s EOBD system and read it while on the go. It will then broadcast that information to Car Genie’s mobile app where the user can have a diagnostics report about the vehicles running condition and health.

Commenting on the company’s new device and the trial tests carried out, AA’s connected car manager Gareth Adams mentioned that they’ve been analysing the fault codes detected by the device and checked them with actual breakdowns experienced by connected Car Genie members. What they’ve discovered is that 38 percent of breakdowns triggered a fault code related to the failure that happened, meaning that the system has the capability to predict up to a third of the malfunctions in real time.

Nevertheless, Adams mentioned that in serious cases, AA would directly contact a customer to alert them before a breakdown occur.

The technology giant Microsoft, has set its eyes on major automobile manufacturers in a bid to make vehicles more eco and user friendly.

Majority of vehicle manufacturers today try their best to come up with new innovative technologies in order to have an upper hand over their close competitors. As a result, most have managed to create not only more environmentally friendly vehicles but also safer ones as well. Apart from that, vehicle manufacturers also focus on creating modern user-friendly digital cars in an attempt to make them easier to manage and maintain. In response to this effort, Microsoft has recently announced its plans to licence their proprietary technology for connected cars, and the Toyota Motor Corporation has been selected as the

company’s first partner. Microsoft intends to support and accelerate the digital revolution, which is sweeping through the automotive sector. The company expects that its technology will help vehicle manufacturers to bring better products and services to car owners. Some of the technologies that the company hopes to transfer include its iconic Windows operating system, file type management for entertainment and Wi-Fi technology for

connectivity. Apart from that, Microsoft will also implement

innovative artificial intelligence technologies and interfaces.

Commenting on the partnership, the executive general manager of Toyota’s Advanced R&D and Engineering Company, Tokuhisa Nomura, said that this patent partnership would help Toyota to innovate faster delivering new immersive experiences to its customers.

Microsoft Hopes to License Its

Technology to Auto Manufacturers

This Device Knows Whether Your Car Will Breakdown before it Happens

17

GLOBAL NEWS

Image Source: independent.co.uk

Image Source: technologyrecord.com