The advents of disruptive technologies including AI, voice, and mixed reality have introduced a futuristic vision to the smart vehicle experience. Automobile makers and retailers both are trying to capitalize on new high-tech solutions to revamp the in-vehicle experience for both drivers and passengers. Such technology solutions are also helping mobility service providers to gain an edge over others in a highly competitive market. As the passenger experience becomes a top priority for companies, autonomous vehicles may evolve into hubs for immersive entertainment and new channels for retail.

The auto companies are accelerating in-car experience while looking forward to optimizing across all facets of the car journey ensuring passenger safety and vehicle security.

Let us explore some latest emerging in-vehicle technologies that are changing how people interact with cars.

Authentication Through Biometric

For automakers, it is necessary to understand the seriousness of vehicle security because, with the emergence of technology, car thieves are devising new methods for stealing. Today, automakers are looking for more secure technology for vehicle entry and ignition. Interestingly, biometric-based authentication that verifies an individual's identity using biological markers like a fingerprint, face, or pupil, offers a significant alternative to the key fob. Biometric markers vary from person to person and can be effective enough when implemented properly.

In-vehicle Voice Assistant

Automakers are including voice technology into the vehicle owing to its increasing resemblance to a connected device. This technology enables drivers to access important information about navigation, detours, and potential pit stops while eliminating the use of smartphones for such things. Also, more advanced in-vehicle digital assistants can enable drivers to play music, search, and send text messages.

Voice assistants in the car also allow passengers to access information and other forms of media and entertainment in the vehicle with a simple voice command.

Augmented Reality for Heads-up Displays

As the vehicle connectivity has advanced, OEMs are revamping the cockpit in order to better improve driver safety and keep passengers entertained.

The AR-enabled heads-up display (HUD) is a transparent display that presents data on the windshield so that drivers can keep their eyes on the road. They reflect the required information such as speed limits, time, and temperature. This all information lies within the driver's line of sight. It can also create a medium for immersive passenger entertainment. The holographic displays can project enhanced visuals for TV and movies.

Reducing Human Error Through Vision-based Monitoring

The automakers are trying to minimize the 95 percent of traffic accidents caused by human error through driver monitoring technology which tracks driver behavior, identifies if a driver is distracted or fatigued, and intervenes before an accident occurs.

Such systems depend upon in-car sensors that capture what's going on in the vehicle's interior. Employing computer vision and facial recognition technology, the sensor data enables these monitoring systems to track and process a driver's facial expressions, eye movements, and head position to understand his status and behavior. It can detect the potential issue can send an alert to the driver. Also in more advanced vehicles it can automatically pull over and bring the car to a stop.

Retail and Entertainment

Additionally, OEMs are looking at new ways to enhance the passenger experience while capitalizing on advancements in connectivity technology that enable higher quality gaming and content streaming. Such entertainment services could create new monetization opportunities for automakers, retailers, and mobility service providers. They could all take a cut of any revenue generated.

Also, in-vehicle retail is a significant advancement. The improvements in mobile payment technology have created opportunities for in-car purchases.

With gaming and streaming and in-vehicle retail, auto companies create new revenue channels for ride-hailing drivers and retailers alongside enhancing the passenger experience as well.

Tech-optimized Parking 

For car owners and fleet managers, parking is one of the most notable problems. It has been found in studies that the average US driver spends 17 hours every year looking for parking, and the total cost of wasted time, fuel, and emissions can add up to US$ 345 a year for the average driver. Also in dense urban areas, spotting parking places can sometimes take just as long as the commute itself.

As the cities grow congested, the figures are going to get worse with rising populations and on-demand services.

To curb the issue, various start-ups are developing AI tech-based solutions to make the parking process easier and more efficient.