How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Automotive Electronics

AI is making vehicles more intelligent and more connected. It’s also helping companies develop new prototypes, increase supply chain efficiency and reinforce drivers’ safety on the road.

In addition, it can help identify cracks in components or cars during testing before they become real problems. And it can reduce human error, which remains the leading cause of traffic accidents.

Digital Twins

Digital twin technology uses a virtual representation of a real-world entity to improve processes, supply chains, and facilities management. This approach is transforming numerous industries and even the fabric of society.

Using a digital twin to track an individual physical object or system can save money, labor, and downtime by identifying problems before they occur. This is a significant improvement over the conventional method of monitoring equipment through sporadic sensors and waiting for machines to break down.

Many automakers are leveraging artificial intelligence applications in their manufacturing processes to help prevent costly equipment breakdowns that can halt production lines. For example, AI-powered robots can help reduce the need for manual labor to move materials across a factory floor by automatically transporting them from one location to another. AI can also detect potential machinery failures by analyzing background noise, vibrations, and temperature data to predict when it’s time for maintenance.

Digital twins often begin life in CAD software, but they’re increasingly used to capture information throughout a product’s lifespan. This includes post-sale services like performance monitoring and equipment maintenance. A robust IoT (Internet of Things) infrastructure is usually a prerequisite to digital twins, and these systems frequently use advanced analytics fueled by machine learning to process the voluminous and ever-changing data they collect. This data is gathered from internal and external sources, so the supplier ecosystem must be willing to share this information.

Connected Sensors

The massive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled vehicles to connect to sensors that can communicate with each other and share data. This creates opportunities for applications that can make vehicles more efficient, more innovative, and safer.

For example, Visit sites like Delta Electronics that can use IoT sensors to monitor vehicle parts and components for signs of trouble and alert drivers if something goes wrong. This can reduce repair costs and downtime by enabling maintenance personnel to take action before a problem becomes catastrophic.

Another important application of IoT sensor technology is reducing carbon emissions. By analyzing IoT data, AI systems can identify the cause of production inefficiencies and recommend solutions to cut carbon emissions. Did you know that systems exist to measure the carbon footprint of a specific location or city? As modern automobile manufacturers aim to make driving more accessible and comfortable, they have integrated voice-activated personal assistants. These assistants can adjust the temperature, radio station, and playlist and even call you. They are powered by machine learning algorithms that enable them to recognize and respond to natural human speech. In addition, they learn from past interactions and can provide personalized recommendations based on the user’s preferences.

AI-Powered Robots

Artificial intelligence combines with robotics to automate processes that would be labor-intensive for humans. Robots can carry out repetitive tasks faster and more precisely than humans, saving time and improving accuracy. They can also operate continuously, which reduces maintenance costs.

Robots can also perform highly complex tasks that are difficult or impossible for human operators. This allows businesses to improve production efficiency, increase quality, and create new products with minimal human intervention.

AI-enabled robotics have already revolutionized manufacturing. The technology enables factories to automate repetitive, manual tasks, freeing employees to focus on higher-value work. In addition, intelligent automation, facilitated by tools such as the PRTG OPC UA server, can help companies better understand their data to make smarter business decisions.

The automotive industry is one of the most active adopters of AI technology. In its self-driving cars, Waymo (formerly Google’s research into autonomous vehicles) uses AI to detect pedestrians, other vehicles, road work, and obstacles from up to 300 yards away. Auto manufacturers use AI to design and build vehicles and streamline production and quality control. For example, Audi uses computer vision to inspect sheet metal for minor cracks at production, reducing faulty parts in finished cars. Similarly, BMW’s latest models incorporate an AI personal assistant that adjusts music, light settings, and other features to match the driver’s mood and fatigue level, ensuring safety and comfort.

Computer Vision

Computer vision, a subset of machine learning, enables computers and machines to decipher relevant insights from digital inputs like images and videos. It is essential to self-driving cars and many other advanced technologies, including automated inspection and quality assurance.

This technology helps to detect, localize and measure minute defects or damage. It also enables the automation of specific manufacturing processes, such as the assembly line. For example, it can identify flaws in paint jobs or find parts not attached correctly, such as windscreen wipers.

The technology can also improve the speed of analysis and provide higher accuracy. A 3D model, for instance, can distinguish between staged and real car damage with millimeter precision, making it possible to automate the insurance claim process and reduce customer disputes.

Computer vision is also used in schools to monitor students during examinations, make unfair practices easier to spot, and increase transportation efficiency by detecting traffic signal violators. It is even helping to prevent fraud in the healthcare industry by identifying patients’ faces, enabling them to get better treatment more quickly. The technology could enable robots to collaborate with humans in factories without needing a physical interface. This is possible through edge AI (also known as on-device ML), which moves the computational processing from the cloud to devices near the data source, such as cameras.