Automakers integrate Alexa into their infotainment systems.
Google brings its own assistant in some fixed installation Navis. But only in conjunction with Android operating system.
Retrofit solutions are intended to bring voice controls into as many vehicles as possible.
Competition from other AI systems - or is it not?
Alexa keeps on growing and getting smarter. This is how our Mobile Geeks pandemonium podcast can accompany you and in order to be able to navigate with language, Amazon has recently been working with Maps service Here Maps . At the Tech Show CES 2019, a further step followed, in which the integration into the automobile was presented. There are both fixed-mounted navigation systems and retrofit solutions that can interact with Amazon's voice control.
BMW has two smart co-drivers
The Munich-based carmaker BMW is now presenting two assistants that can be found in parallel in the car. On the one hand, the in-house BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant . This can be used to regulate vehicle functions. From the seat heating to questions on how to top up the wiping water, the spectrum ranges. As a special feature, you can give this voice control its own activation word. The development team also includes experts, such as the former Microsoft Cortana Germany manager Marion Sardone . It brings in your experience in the (further) development of voice control. On the other hand, BMW cooperates with Amazon. Together, they made Amazon Alexa fit for the BMW navigation systems .
At Skills are currently 160 different extensions of Alexa officially compatible with the fixed installation Navis. BMW makes sure that there is also a display message as feedback for the vehicle occupants and not just an announcement through the speakers. As a result, not everyone who has more than 50,000 skills off the start is free.
It is nice, by the way, that many users of a BMW or MINI model can use Alexa.
If a navigation system Professional is installed in the BMW with tiles as the start page, BMW ID 6.0 will run on it as the operating system. In addition, the BMW must have the special equipment telephony with wireless charging, because only two microphones are installed in the car.
If in the BMW the Live Cockpit Plus or Professional (with current BMW OS 7.0) is installed, then the Alexa integration is also possible.
At MINI, all models equipped with the Connected Navigation Plus system (including telephony with wireless charging) are compatible with Amazon's Alexa.
The activation of Amazon Alexa is planned for March on the one hand via BMW Connected Online portal or MINI Connected Online portal and on the other via smartphone app from BMW Connected for Android or iOS or MINI Connected app for Android or iOS .
A commendable care over two generations of BMW infotainment .
Both assistants have their respective functional area. The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant only handles vehicle-owned areas, while Amazon Alexa can be used for multimedia services and other third-party services.
At Byton, on the other hand, there will be only one voice control - Amazon Alexa. With your help multimedia and communication services can be controlled. How many skills Byton allows is still open.
Alexa everywhere - retrofit solutions for Amazon's AI
In addition to the fixed navigation systems, there will also be a number of retrofit solutions. Here, in contrast to the integration of BMW, all available more than 50,000 skills can be used. However, without display feedback, if an input has worked or what Alexa is doing. Suction cup mount representatives include the following product from iOttie. A smartphone is plugged in, and the holder is supplied with power via a 12-volt adapter. Inside are microphones that can be communicated with Amazon Alexa.
Another solution has been chosen from the California (USA) originating accessory manufacturer Scosche . Here, the smartphone can be somewhere in a tray in the car. For example, in a compartment near a 12 volt connector or cigarette lighter. There, the BTFREQ 12-volt adapter is plugged in. He also has microphones and Amazon Alexa integration. The special feature here are the other connections there. To connect to the Amazon servers, the BTFREQ needs the same as the iOtiiePhone holder suction cup holder, a smartphone as a companion. About this runs the data connection, as well as the sound output. In order to hear the sound better, the phone must be connected either via AUX-in cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth to the radio of the car. As the power donor of the smartphone is increasingly burdened, Scosche has come up with something. There are two USB ports in the adapter. One is a full size USB Type-A. The second is a USB Type-C connector that also supports Apple's Quick Charging and Samsung smartphones. The Scosche BTFREQ will be available later this year.
12-volt adapter with Amazon Alexa integration has two built-in microphones (Source: Scosche).
12-volt adapter with Amazon Alexa integration has two built-in microphones (Source: Scosche).
2 USB ports for charging smartphones. Integrated are USB Type-A and Type-C (Source: Scosche).
2 USB ports for charging smartphones. Integrated are USB Type-A and Type-C (Source: Scosche).
OK Google - let's go for a spin
About Android Auto is the Google Assistant in many fixed-installation Navis available. But requires a connection to the Android smartphone, as well as sufficient data volume of the phone.
Fiat, Honda and Volvo are currently offering in-car infotainment systems that are already running on Android. So it can be used to talk about the vehicle antenna and the data connection of the car to talk to the Google AI.
Retrofit solutions are also coming onto the market and require a 12-volt connection.
In addition to Amazon mixes the Internet search engine giant Google vigorously. Again, the Google Assistant can be enhanced. These so-called actions can be developed by programmers and supplement the AI with, for example, messages from various news portals. By default, you can navigate using Google Maps . The Mountain View company offers several options to use in the car. Of course, via direct connection between smartphone and radio navigation system, by using Android Autouses. This partially used in the car hardware is used. So the microphone in the headliner and the display of the fixed-mounted radio are used. The entire computing power, however, comes from the smartphone. And also the data flatrate of the telephone is charged with.
More comfortable is the integration of Google Assistant in in-vehicle infotainment systems, which rely directly on Android as the operating system. Because then no connection is needed to the smartphone and it is used the antenna of the car. This ensures better reception than on the smartphone and the data volume of the phone is spared. Android fixed- mount navigation systems currently offer the FCA group with Fiat Chrysler and Ferrari (called UConnect 7), Honda and Volvo . In the future, Audi will change its operating system and switch to Android .
Google is spreading - retrofit solutions are coming
As with Alexa, there are also some retrofit solutions for Google's language assistant. Anker presented the Roav Bolt at the CES 2019 . This 12 volt connector is similar to Scosche's, but has a different design in some ways. So there are only two normal size USB Type A ports on the Roav Bolt. Quick charging is not possible. It has an AUX-in port directly on board. So that the sound can also be passed on to the audio system in the car. A connection to the smartphone is mandatory. Anker will initially offer the Roav Bolt for $ 49 in the US. JBL also has a 12-volt power connector with Google Assistant integration - the JBL Link Drive, It costs $ 60 when it first goes on sale in the US in the spring.
Even more smart passengers
Apple was a pioneer, but other wizards offer more features and can be used everywhere.
Samsung is trying to establish its own AI with Bixby.
Voice control from Nuance with automaker-specific functionality.
Microsoft has - in fact - given up and lets his Cortana AI live as part of Amazon Alexa.
However, there are other companies that want a piece of the cake. Apple has made with Siri, the voice control for mass production, but it remains in the typical attitude of the company. Our services are to be used exclusively on Apple products. Thus, the use remains limited. Especially since the extent of the Apple AI is lower than with the digital assistance of Amazon and Google and, for example, there is no possibility to activate extensions. Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, offers its own Bixby Assistant on its devices . Well, Korean and English are understood, but otherwise the language skills are very limited. In addition isBixby reserved exclusively for Samsung devices . This will make it difficult to establish oneself.
When it comes to assistants in the car, Nuance should not be missed. The company has been developing voice control systems for automobiles for years. For example, the "Hey Mercedes" assistant Nuance has been developed. She understands several languages and in the new CLA (model year 2020, internally called C118) even two different people. The underlying technology also sells the company to other carmakers. However, the Nuance voice control remains exclusively in the car. You will not find it in other devices. Also an extension by means of skills is not possible.
The traditional technology company Microsoft brought in 2014 at the time of Windows Phone 8.1 devices, the own KI Cortana on the market. Based on a character from the video game series Halo , the smart helper was named. Since 2015 she is also at home on the Windows 10 PC. However, since the smartphone operating system discontinued last yearwas (only security updates, without new features!), It went off with Cortana Berg. Many functions were canceled and just here in Germany Marion Sardone fought a losing battle. The number of users was apparently too low, as would have been worth a development outside of America. But you do not want to give up on Microsoft, because you have a cooperation with Amazon from. Among other things, it is about the integration of Alexa . Two sets of devices that the Seattle-based retailer had not yet supplied with the AI are the computer and game consoles. And that's where Microsoft can help. Therefore, there is an official Amazon Alexa app for Windows 10 PCs . There are even certified Alexa PCs, Currently, the integration is also being tested on the Xbox One. Due to this cooperation, for example, appointments from Outlook can be easily queried with Alexa, without a skill must be activated.
The video is from the Build Conference in May 2018. Meanwhile, the final version of the integration for Windows 10 PCs is available, so that activation via "Alexa, open Cortana" can be dispensed with.
outlook
The race for the smart passenger seat is going to get off to a great start this year. But - in my opinion - a duopoly is almost a foregone conclusion. Because Amazon and Google have achieved an enormous spread through the integration into various devices . Therefore, it is much harder for latecomers to gain a foothold. In addition, one has to ask the question, if one does not prefer to talk to the passenger, whom one already knows from other devices in the household. And that's Alexa or the Google Assistant.
Nevertheless, it can be clever to have your own expert on board for basic functions in the car. Because such a voice control could answer certain questions about the car technology, driver assistance systems and navigation and at the same time the collected data transparent to the user on portals, such as BMW CarDatadeposit. For as far as the own vehicle data (eg acceleration, braking, position of the car) is concerned, not only automakers are keen to keep them to themselves, but also many customers do not want to give this data to a technology company ala Google. After all, these data are part of the car and should stay there, the argument goes. For the multiple desires for entertainment and communication - just think of popular services like Amazon Music, Spotify , Netflix , Amazon Prime Videoor Messenger like WhatsApp - however, a specific voice control of a technology company can make sense. In order to fulfill as many customer requirements as possible, seamless networking with various portals and end devices is required in this area. There are now Amazon with Alexa and the Google Assistant your advantages. That's why car manufacturer's own AI systems should also be understood with Alexa or Google Assistant. Because the diversity makes it. And in the end, the car owners benefit, because there is more comfort and safety through the new smart passenger.
0 Comments