Nowadays, technological innovation makes it easier for us to solve problems in a simple, timely and agile manner. IoT technology in the automotive industry is undoubtedly evidence of this. Through these technologies, a collaborative network is created between devices and equipment that facilitates the control and efficiency of an organization.
The results are noticeable throughout the entire manufacturing chain, between auto parts and vehicles, which meet strict quality controls, comfort and safety to end users through the data shown by some sensors or simply made possible through the collection and analysis of vital information for the entire chain.
Given the importance of this topic, we will talk about the limits and specific uses of IoT to support Industry 4.0 in the automotive manufacturing sector.
What is the relevance of IoT in the automotive industry?
Undoubtedly, Industry 4.0, digital transformation and IoT are revolutionizing and increasing a relationship with technology as they aim to increase adaptability to the needs and production processes.
It is a fact that the automotive industry is one of the most benefited in this aspect and it is due to the fact that technological development is notoriously focusing on it.
As time goes by, we can see the changes that have taken place in the units with respect to their automation in relation to the drivers. The tasks to be performed by the latter are increasingly reduced, since machines, applications and IoT technology are exponentially generating that cars are driven without manual assistance.
This is largely due to the fact that car accidents are mostly caused by distractions or even human error, so the contribution of IoT in the automotive industry is aimed at monitoring driving habits and guiding them to reduce any danger.
The most notable IoT applications in the automotive industry
Through the IoT -among other things- vehicles with sensors will be able to identify and communicate through traffic signs and markings to the outside through a network of cameras with high-speed internet connection, allowing cars to circulate without the intervention of a driver.
Likewise, drivers will be assigned tasks through a voice assistant, which will give them greater confidence to carry out their tasks and greater safety to avoid any type of risk. For example, through its implementation, it can detect the state of the roads or the damage that can be caused by a pavement in poor condition.
Another benefit is the safety of the car and the driver, an essential factor of IoT in the automotive industry, are the alerts that allow to avoid accidents and warn when a bad maneuver is performed.
In case it is impossible to avoid the accident, the IoT can automatically detect when a coalition has occurred and urgently alert the nearest emergency services by giving the exact location where the accident occurred. This will reduce response times and the driver can be attended to very quickly.
In terms of the production process itself, IoT is reflected in:
Interconnection of workstations for greater standardization, among other things.
Predictive maintenance of key machines for assembly quality.
Collection of data associated with use tests and different studies.
Some IoT stories in the automotive industry
Some companies - linked in one way or another to the automotive sector - that have already succeeded through the IoT and have led amazing advances are:
A Japanese company thinks that a car, however autonomous, must be driven by a human being. Therefore, their goal is not to avoid the dangers that could arise on the roads by eliminating drivers, but for them the use of IoT should avoid risky situations.
Thus, this famous company adopted a tool called "invisible co-pilot" or "guardian angel" and it is a system based on IoT technology that allows taking control of the vehicle only in case of detecting a possible accident that would be impossible for a driver to avoid.
Another transportation services company is betting on a future of autonomous vehicles to make its business more profitable. In this way, any person will be able to take over the administration of the trips, i.e., collections, use of the app, etc., without the need and responsibility of driving the vehicle.
Another IoT success story in the automotive industry is that of the well-known company General Motors, which has as one of its priorities to provide communication, comfort and safety tools to both public and private transportation. In addition, it made an economic investment to finance together with Lyft, the feasibility of a fully autonomous car that can be driven by anyone and, thus, by not having the need for a professional driver, could compete strongly with Uber.
The large German automotive company contracted an IoT service to reduce the waste of time spent looking for a vehicle inside its dealership, whether it was in the workshop, at the body shop, in the paint shop, etc., which meant a considerable annual economic loss. In this way, they were able to reduce the time by two thirds and find the right solution.
As discussed throughout this report, the IoT in the automotive industry is expanding rapidly with different scopes and dynamics of use, both in production processes and in the cars available to the end user. So the IoT, along with Big Data technology, are the big data sources of today's manufacturing and are helping to increase efficiency and quality margins.
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