BlackBerry QNX Digital Cockpit Hands-on: Android apps running natively from the car

Digital cockpits are a staple of the automotive presence at CES, and QNX showed off both conceptual and existing integrations it says are prepare to go.

Being a middleware provider, QNX likes to bear witness what is possible at the show every year, but is beholden to what its automaker clients ultimately want. For that and other reasons, some unique and interesting tech never really sees the light of day in the way it's presented.

That'southward non entirely the instance this fourth dimension around. BlackBerry's subsidiary had 2 vehicles in its berth — a Karma Revero and Audi Q8. The sometime showcased infotainment and telematics that are possible, while the latter had the latest version of Audi'southward MMI system.

A different Android

QNX's Platform for Digital Cockpits is designed to significantly reduce the fourth dimension information technology takes automakers to build an infotainment organisation for their vehicles. With a shorter timeline to enquiry, product and market, the underlying point may be that this gives them more opportunity to maintain control of the dash within.

The Revero, which is a luxury electric car, was equipped with what QNX believes is the safest digital cockpit to appointment because of its safety certification. Highlighting this claim is a more integrated and unfettered version of Android. It's not Android Auto, only rather something else.

Powered past a single electronic control unit (ECU), the thought is to run Android apps from the car, not necessarily when projected onto a head unit through a phone, a la Android Auto. It's a like concept to what QNX unveiled concluding twelvemonth, except much of information technology is ready for any automaker who wants information technology now. QNX reps say that consumer need for greater integration fueled development, though it's still a question of how it will play out with automakers.

The concept in the Revero was built on three in-car displays; i on the nuance, one digital cluster and a third nether the dash display. The idea is that Android apps tin run more securely and that automakers can decide how and what apps to include in their ain infotainment systems. For instance, if they wanted to offering Google Maps or a modified Play Shop, they could exercise so in a customized way.

Another reason is to ensure security, given Android's sometimes tenuous exposure to cyber attacks. QNX reps also said their partner in this endeavour, Tata Elxsi from India, was a key partner in getting this washed.

Both Google Assistant and IBM Watson were integrated within, so beyond apps, voice figured prominently here, too. It is conceptual, and so again, it would be upwards to automakers to decide whether they want multiple third-party voice assistants within or not.

Everything about the system, both functionally and visually, felt different than Android Auto, or even any OEM organisation.

QNX and Audi

QNX is already in 120 1000000 vehicles, according to the company's own stats. Audi's MMI infotainment organization showcased in the Q8 was an example of a vehicle that has something at present.

For the first time, the German brand adopted the three-screen layout for certain 2019 and upcoming 2020 model vehicles. At that place's no IBM Watson, nor the Android integration demoed in the Revero, but it looks pretty slick, as is. The touchpad next to the wireless charging pad is another input method where gestures can accept over. For example, searching for a destination can be equally simple every bit simply writing out a few messages quickly with a finger instead of typing on a keyboard.

Drivers or passengers can add a detour to an existing route by touching a destination or dragging the route line over to it on the primary dash screen. They can link whatever ii points that way, likewise.

Unlike the Q8 in the QNX berth, the Audi booth had a number of different stations. Unfortunately, I didn't go to attempt the Holoride demo that brings virtual reality (VR) into its vehicles, where passengers wearing VR headsets experienced space combat with the car'due south movement. Audi showcased it with Marvel'south Guardians of the Galaxy transport

If the automobile veered or turned right or sped upwards, the ship would do the same in the virtual world. Audi thinks it will have this applied science gear up to go in the next three years, with infotainment integration withal to exist determined.