Qualcomm and Harman Redefine the In-Cabin Experience
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Harman International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., have allied. This is to design, develop and produce hardware and software solutions for virtualised, end-to-end 5G networks. Today’s drivers expect their cars to update as rapidly as their smartphones. But most cars currently on the road continue to rely on outdated systems. This partnership seeks to remedy that by combining Qualcomm’s Snapdragon automotive compute platforms and Harman’s scalable platform. They aim to build intelligent, adaptable, and empathetic cockpit systems.
Qualcomm and Harman Combine AI Power and Automotive Expertise
The collaboration combines Harman’s ready-to-deploy portfolio with Qualcomm’s high-performance compute platform to enable the next generation of automotive AI models. This consists of things like real-time ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) visualisation and situational intelligence. It also consists of compassionate UIs that react naturally to driver & passenger emotions, preferences, and contexts. Harman’s multi-domain architecture combines IoT and Automotive. These smart features, based on personalised and connected in-cabin experiences, build on a foundation that drives the future of mobility.
Central to the partnership is the integration between Harman’s Ready product line, which comprises Ready Engage, Ready Vision QVUE and Ready Care, and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit Elite platform. These integrated systems enable intuitive, human-centred new functions. These include intelligent conversational agents using the Luna AI avatar, AR-rich visualisation for safer driving, and AI-based driver monitoring for increased safety and convenience.
Targeting Automakers in Europe and China
The companies are first targeting automakers in Europe and China. This is where the need for intelligent and emotionally responsive in-vehicle experiences is increasingly speeding up. The partnership of offering the user experience knowledge of Harman and the AI compute leadership of Qualcomm is aimed at reducing the time of development in a vehicle manufacturer. This eases the complex system design and provides differentiated solutions to the specific car manufacturer and its brand. To consumers, the advantages will be direct-improved graphics and more personalisation. It would also include AI-controlled safety features which will dynamically adjust to real-time road conditions.
This go-to-market approach brings to the fore the increasing significance of AI in changing the world’s mobility. Each of the two companies acknowledges that AI-based infotainment and cockpit platforms are emerging as a key source of divergence among car manufacturers in the most dynamically competitive markets.
Qualcomm and Harman Push Central Compute with AI
In addition to cockpit solutions, Qualcomm and Harman are also partnering with the Central Compute portfolio that is based on Snapdragon Ride Elite and Snapdragon Ride Flex SoCs. This architecture enables various critical workloads to be executed concurrently on a single system-on-chip, e.g. infotainment as well as ADAS functionality. Combined with these functions, automakers can streamline system design, save power, and have smooth interconnection between safety-critical functions and passenger-oriented applications.
These platforms accommodate a broad spectrum of ADAS capabilities, including perception, sensor combination, choice making and actuation. What comes out of it is an efficient and smarter car system that offers safety and user-focused innovation in equal measures. In this direction, Qualcomm and Harman are stretching the limits of how generative AI can define the future of mobility.
To Conclude
The agreement between Harman and Qualcomm is one of the significant milestones in the process of entering the automobile industry. With a unified approach to the future of compute combined with modular, user-friendly architectures, the two companies are making vehicles dynamic. And also evolving like smartphones- continually improving safety, comfort and personalisation. This partnership is a sign of a future where the new human cars, intelligent, empathetic and connected, become the new standard. With Europe and China being the first markets and scalable central compute solutions already under development.
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