How Automotive Applications Depend on the IoT

When looking at IoT and Automotive, it’s amazing how close the two have become in the last couple decades. Today when we think of smart vehicles, we often think of a self-driving car, but it’s not just that. There are so many more things that play into “Smart Automotive”.

Some of the first IoT inclusions in the automotive sector were Autostart and safety services like OnStar. At this same time, fleet management of company vehicles was starting to take off. These were exciting, new uses of IoT that made the automotive industry safer and more user friendly, as well as increasing the efficiency of managing small to large fleets like waste collection and delivery vehicles.

Today we are seeing new advancements in these technologies. Autostart used to be a one-way radio, and the user needed to be in close proximity to the vehicle. Now, a user can connect a cell phone to the Autostart system and start or lock/unlock the vehicle from almost anywhere. Personal use vehicles and Fleet management have also greatly improved. What once used to be expensive, basic systems have become affordable, and can be managed from anywhere, with vehicle diagnostics, location, and service data delivered right to an app on your mobile device.

IoT and Automotive are interdependent, with more electronics in vehicles every year including mobile connectivity, environmental sensing, radar, and much more. Comparing the past to today, I can’t imagine what will be possible in the future. To learn more about DigiKey and what companies like Analog Devices are doing, watch our SupplyFrame video series.