Convergence

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Convergence

Hughes’ Ambitions 'Way Beyond Safety and Security,’ VP Tells Convergence
Oct 24, 2008 4:18 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
To challenge OnStar’s industry-leading 2,000 advisors, Hughes earlier this month signed a contract with Concentrix, which will manage non-emergency calls with a field of 1,100 operators.

Change Is Good, Necessary, Conti Chief Says
Oct 24, 2008 9:07 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Tom Murphy
Continental Chairman Karl-Thomas Neumann says the industry can benefit from the global economic crisis, that the Tata Nano must be taken seriously and Chrysler pairing with another OEM will be “good for us.”

Electronics Driving Future Automotive Systems
Oct 23, 2008 12:42 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
With a wave of a hand, a driver or passenger can turn on interior lights or control the navigation screen though the use of motion sensors.

Ford, Microsoft Partnership Symbolic of New Business Model
Oct 23, 2008 9:38 AM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
The germination of Sync illustrates how the auto industry continues to move from an OEM-supplier relationship based on price and on-time delivery to a more collaborative model.

Reporter’s Notebook: Show Me the Way to San Jose
Oct 22, 2008 4:02 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
Ward’s writers pass along the buzz at this week’s 2008 Convergence Transportation Electronics Conference.

ON Semiconductor Debuts New CAN Interface
Oct 22, 2008 3:39 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
The new transceiver expands on the company’s range of in-vehicle networking parts and is compatible with transceiver circuits from rival semiconductor suppliers.

Tiny MEMS Sensors Hold Big Potential
Oct 22, 2008 11:14 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Mike Sutton
The micro-electromechanical system technology holds vast potential because of its miniscule size and ability to operate without an electrical current, says Custom Sensors & Technologies.

Yazaki Sees Promise in Green Prototype Material
Oct 22, 2008 11:10 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
The supplier is using the natural fiber kenaf as a bioplastic in combination with petroleum-derived polypropylene commonly used in interior applications.

Preh Unveils Son of iDrive
Oct 21, 2008 6:54 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Preh’s new iDrive features seven separate buttons and/or rocker switches to provide fast and direct access to core functions and menu prompts.

Virtual Instrumentation Gaining in Popularity
Oct 21, 2008 6:18 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Byron Pope
Auto makers are just beginning to grasp the full potential of virtual displays and are coming up with new and innovative ways to utilize the technology in order to differentiate their products.

Next-Generation HMIs Should Accommodate Human Behavior
Oct 21, 2008 6:11 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
Designers of new HMIs must consider the driver’s most basic needs, as well as enhance driver performance and stimulate driver enthusiasm to improve safety, one expert says.

Integration Key When Managing ECU Proliferation
Oct 21, 2008 5:51 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
Due to the increasing complexity of electrical-distribution systems, OEMs want fewer ECUs in order to streamline the design process. BMW vehicles have up to 70 electronic controllers.

Safety Technologies Need Further Advancement
Oct 21, 2008 5:36 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Byron Pope
Auto makers and suppliers have been working to develop safety systems that can accommodate a variety of body types, ages and genders. But there is work yet to be done.

Tough Economy Tightening Electronics Budgets
Oct 21, 2008 4:53 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Derek Stark
Improvements in vehicle quality and fuel economy remain GM’s top priorities.

Infineon Promotes Pressure Sensor for Side Impacts
Oct 21, 2008 4:40 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg
For a side collision, accelerometers typically don’t have the reaction time necessary for a safe airbag deployment, an Infineon field engineer says.

NASA’s Kranz Mesmerizes, Inspires Convergence Attendees
Oct 21, 2008 4:24 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
The director of mission operations recounts how a team of young engineers and scientists worked together to safely bring the astronauts of Apollo 13 home.

Give Consumers Design Power, Supplier Says
Oct 21, 2008 3:51 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Eric Mayne
Mecel AB predicts consumers someday will be able to download car-radio head-unit displays to suit their personal tastes.

Rapidly Changing Auto Industry Reason for Optimism at KPIT Cummins
Oct 21, 2008 2:22 PM, WardsAuto.com, By James M. Amend
Writing software with computer models and then testing the codes virtually has vastly improved reliability.

Lear Tying EVs to Power Grid With New Charging Unit
Oct 21, 2008 12:18 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Mike Sutton
The scalable charging unit will debut in several 2011 plug-in hybrids and can handle wall-socket outputs up to 440 volts.

Opel Gets Hella's Sign-Detection Camera
Oct 21, 2008 11:26 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward's Staff
The optional “Opel Eye” camera system on the European ’09 Opel Insignia will read traffic signs and warn of unintended lane departures.

Institutional Issues, Not Technology, Biggest Roadblock to Connected Vehicles
Oct 20, 2008 6:16 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
The most difficult part of future vehicle infrastructure-integration activities will be social and institutional issues regarding privacy, liability for system failures and ownership of the wireless networks.

Active Safety Technology No Excuse for Poor Driving
Oct 20, 2008 5:25 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Mike Sutton
Many active driver aids protect motorists from themselves and others on the road, yet if not used responsibly, they have the potential to instill overconfidence and do more harm than good, a supplier executive says.

National Semiconductor Touts LED Energy-Management System
Oct 20, 2008 5:09 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Byron Pope
National's driver can shut down all power to the light-emitting diode headlight assembly when it's not in use, which greatly reduces the amount of power drained from the battery.

Reporter's Notebook: Another Stellar Testimonial
Oct 20, 2008 4:49 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward's Staff
Ward's writers pass along the buzz at this week's 2008 Convergence Transportation Electronics Conference.

MOST Infotainment ‘Backbone’ of Auto Industry
Oct 20, 2008 4:42 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Byron Pope
The consortium was founded in 1998 by BMW, Daimler and a handful of key suppliers in order to standardize the hardware utilized by in-vehicle infotainment systems.

Sirius XM Seeks New Model, First Profit
Oct 20, 2008 4:20 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Tom Murphy
CEO Mel Karmazin says the newly combined Sirius XM Radio has annual sales of $2.4 billion and still has yet to earn a dollar.

Autonomous Vehicles on Near Horizon
Oct 20, 2008 3:53 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Eric Mayne
Larry Burns Sensor sophistication, validation capability and assuring performance in adverse environmental conditions are key stumbling blocks, but Chris Urmson says these are not insurmountable.

New System Simulates Whole-Vehicle Electronic Networks
Oct 20, 2008 3:43 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
CPU Tech system enables software developers to head off problems before they are designed into physical prototypes.

Buehler Supplying Custom Water Pumps for Chevy Volt, GM Hybrids
Oct 20, 2008 1:06 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Mike Sutton
The $50 million contract includes 12- and 50-volt water pumps and stems from the two companies' mid-2007 joint-development effort for the components.

Defining the Value Proposition
Sep 30, 2008 9:44 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
Convergence 2008 General Chairman Andreas Schell will suggest merging automotive and electronics with yet another dissimilar realm: the business world.

Chrysler’s Jim Press Headlines Convergence Keynotes
Sep 4, 2008 10:44 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Ward’s Staff
In keeping with the consumer focus this year, Chrysler LLC Vice Chairman and President Jim Press will be delivering the final keynote address.

OEMs Focus on Technology, Standards at Convergence
Jul 23, 2008 3:10 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Tom Murphy
The “Car Makers Speak” panel will gauge each OEM’s interest in various technologies and standards, such as FlexRay and Autosar, as well as open-source software development.

Converging on Real Customer Needs
Jul 7, 2008 1:36 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Drew Winter
In October, the automotive and electronics worlds will merge at Convergence 2008, the industry’s biennial confab on auto electronics.