QNX, a subsidiary of BlackBerry, today demonstrated how it is laying the groundwork for automated driving with a trusted software foundation for building secure, reliable, safety-critical automotive systems.
Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles are moving quickly from theory to reality. This week, at CES 2016, QNX Software Systems is showcasing technologies that will help drive this industry transformation, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications.
In addition, QNX is demonstrating its comprehensive suite of solutions for digital instrument clusters, infotainment systems, telematics, and acoustics. All of the demonstrations integrate a rich complement of QNX and third-party technologies, illustrating how QNX and its partner ecosystem offer a proven platform for reducing development costs and speeding time-to-market for automotive manufacturers.
Highlights include a new QNX technology concept vehicle based on a Toyota Highlander, an enhanced QNX reference vehicle based on a Jeep Wrangler, and an interactive command center that graphically illustrates the benefits of V2V and V2I technology.
“QNX has the unique advantage of being a leader in automotive OS software, while also having 30 years’ experience in life-critical, safety-critical, and high-availability systems – the perfect recipe for helping automakers and Tier 1 suppliers make the transition to automated driving,” said John Wall, Senior Vice President and Head of QNX Software Systems.
“With platforms like the safety-certified QNX OS for Safety, and a growing ecosystem of ADAS partners, QNX is primed for what promises to be the most exciting transformation in the history of the automotive industry: the advent of the autonomous car.”
V2V and V2I Technology for Safer Driving
For the first time at CES, QNX Software Systems is demonstrating V2V and V2I (collectively, V2X) technologies powered by the QNX Neutrino OS. V2X units embedded in the two vehicles and in a traffic light communicate wirelessly with one another to demonstrate how V2X technology can prevent collisions and improve traffic flow.
The demo includes an interactive command center that provides a bird’s eye view of several V2X traffic scenarios, including intersection collision warnings, red light warnings, early brake-light warnings, and green light speed optimization. For instance, the command center demonstrates how V2X allows vehicles to detect whether a car up ahead has braked suddenly, giving the trailing vehicles ample time to slow down and avoid a pileup.
The V2X demonstration integrates several technologies from the QNX automotive ecosystem, including industry-leading V2X software stacks and applications by Cohda Wireless and digital instrument clusters designed with the Crank Software Storyboard Suite.
ADAS Vision Systems with Intelligent Object Recognition
Both vehicles in the BlackBerry booth demonstrate how QNX-based ADAS systems can perform realtime analysis of complex traffic scenarios to enhance driver awareness or enable various levels of automated driving. In the Toyota Highlander, attendees will experience a highway scenario in which ADAS algorithms by AdasWorks detect and track vehicles and highway lanes, and help determine a safe distance from the vehicle up ahead. In the Jeep, the CVNAR solution by Luxoft runs computer vision and augmented reality algorithms to highlight points-of-interest, street names, destinations, pedestrian crossings, turn-by-turn navigation arrows, and forward collision detection. The ADAS systems for both vehicles use an NVIDIA Tegra K1-based automotive platform.
The booth will also feature an ADAS demo in which vision algorithms by Itseez showcase ADAS features such as pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, and lane departure warnings.
Digital Instrument Clusters and Infotainment
The new QNX technology concept vehicle features a “glass cockpit” that combines the functions of an instrument cluster and an infotainment system into one seamless display – everything is presented directly in front of the driver, where it is easiest to see. To further minimise distraction, the cockpit offers voice control of media, navigation, and phone connectivity, allowing drivers to access infotainment content without taking their eyes off the road. Built on the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment, the cockpit integrates several partner technologies, including iHeartRadio, HERE Auto navigation integrated with a HERE Auto Companion App, and a Renesas R-Car H2 system-on-chip.
In the QNX reference vehicle, a newly designed instrument cluster displays crosswalk notifications, forward collision warnings, speed limit warnings, and turn-by-turn navigation. The cluster runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 602A processor and its user interface was designed by Rightware, using Rightware Kanzi.
The QNX reference vehicle also includes a full-featured head unit that demonstrates the latest out-of-the-box capabilities of the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment. Highlights of the platform include:
- A voice interface that uses natural language processing, making it easy to launch applications, play music, select radio stations, control volume, use the navigation system, and perform a variety of other tasks.
- A new, easy-to-navigate UI based on Qt 5.5 that supports a variety of touch gestures, including tap, swipe, pinch, and zoom.
- QNX acoustics technology that enables clear, easy-to-understand hands-free calls through advanced echo cancellation and noise reduction.
- Cellular connectivity provided by the QNX Wireless Framework, which simplifies system design by managing the complexities of modem control on behalf of applications.
- HERE Auto navigation
- Flexible support for a variety of smartphone integration protocols.
The head unit in the Jeep runs on an Intel Atom E3827 processor.
In-Car Communications
No more straining to hear the driver when you are in the back seat. The QNX technology concept vehicle demonstrates innovative new QNX In-Car Communication (ICC) technology, which enhances the voice of the driver and relays it to infotainment loudspeakers in the rear of the car. QNX ICC adapts to changing noise conditions, applying enhancement only when needed. QNX ICC is part of the new QNX Acoustics Management Platform, which enables high-performance digital signal processing on application processors, eliminating the need for dedicated DSP hardware. The ICC demo runs on a Texas Instruments (TI) “Jacinto 6” infotainment processor.
BlackBerry IoT Applications
The BlackBerry booth will also feature two product demos highlighting BlackBerry’s end-to-end solutions for IoT verticals. A display of BlackBerry’s over-the-air software update platform, which can be applied to automotive and other embedded solutions, shows how the platform can update applications, settings, and firmware for devices. An asset tracking demonstration showcases the solution and interface for tracking trucks, chassis, and containers; for reporting current locations and sensor data; and for enabling custom alerts and fleet management applications.
Technology Partner Demonstrations
Also at CES, several members of the QNX automotive ecosystem will demonstrate systems featuring QNX technology:
- DiSTI – Demonstrating a QNX-based digital instrument cluster created with DiSTI GL Studio, at the Luxor Hotel.
- Elektrobit – Demonstrating a 2016 Audi TTS featuring the Audi Virtual Cockpit, which incorporates EB street director connected navigation and EB GUIDE HMI running on the QNX Neutrino OS; LVCC North Hall, booth 3306.
- HERE Auto – Demonstrating HERE Auto navigation running on the QNX CAR Platform at the Central Plaza, Booth #CP-2.
- Intel – Demonstrating the QNX CAR Platform on an IntelAtom E3827 processor at the Venetian Hotel.
- Rightware – Demonstrating a QNX-based digital instrument cluster created with Rightware Kanziat the Skylofts at MGM Grand.
