Mobility is one of the most exciting and hottest sectors attracting investments from companies in automotive, technology, and energy among others. As of today, private vehicles outnumber public transport usage and a McKinsey report shows 45% of all trips worldwide are on private cars. Even as people get frustrated with congestion in cities, most administrations are yet to offer their citizens a viable public transport system to help reduce this congestion.
The mobility ecosystem is poised to undergo a transformation in the coming decade, the most significant perhaps since the invention of the automobile. The expected trend is the decline of private cars with a growing number of governments passing regulations to reduce the number of private vehicles towards easing congestion and reducing pollution. Also on the anvil in the not so near future are urban air taxis and mini shuttles. All these are being powered by a few seminal trends and technologies. They include:
The use of Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data analytics to optimise their operations has also revolutionised the industry and enhanced the customer experience. With an enhanced focus on sustainability and eco-friendliness, manufacturers are now investing in green technologies, such as biofuels and hydrogen fuel cells, to reduce their carbon footprint. As the industry embraces innovation and sustainability, here are the top ten trends shaping the Automotive industry Trends and Innovations
Artificial Intelligence - For nearly a decade, the automobile industry has been pursuing the concept of driverless vehicles. Though not anywhere near hitting the world’s city roads, the concept is no longer as futuristic as it seemed a while ago. AI technologies such as Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Computer Vision are now being deployed to guide self-driving cars, manage fleets of vehicles and assist drivers for better safety. This apart, AI can also speed up the process of manufacturing and lower costs through robotic automation.
Electric vehicles - Fossil fuel reserves won’t last forever and their use is also impacting the environment. Towards addressing this, car manufacturers the world over are promoting electric mobility solutions. The challenges currently are high prices of vehicles, inadequate battery life and insufficient charging infrastructure and companies are working on this. The Government of India aims to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030 and has encouraged car manufacturers to invest in EV technology.
Hydrogen cells - Fuel cell cars use the energy generated by compressed hydrogen gas that is fed into an on-board stack of fuel cells. The gas is not burnt, instead the fuel’s chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy. Since it is electricity that powers the car’s electric motors, tailpipe emissions are zero, and water is the only waste produced. In terms of construction, the fuel cell is similar to a battery. Hydrogen enters the anode and comes in contact with a catalyst that initiates a separation of hydrogen atoms into an electron and proton. The electrons are gathered by a conductive current collector which is linked to a high voltage circuitry that feeds the car’s motors.
Self-driving Vehicles - Significant developments have taken place in this space with corporations like Google, Apple and Tesla investing heavily towards reducing the need for human drivers even as they offer safety, convenience and efficiency. AI enhanced computer vision and similar technologies are deployed in AVs to help in the detection of obstacles and reduce accidents due to driver fatigue. These vehicles hold exceptional promise for the future even though they are quite a distance away from perfection.
Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) - This technology incorporates advanced features such as alert on lane departure, automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control which can improve safety and convenience.
Big Data & Analytics - Big data and analytics can help in assessing vehicle lifecycles of connected vehicles and in predictive maintenance at part level allowing fleet managers to monitor the vehicle performance and make part changes in time, preventing breakdown. Effectively analysed, customer data also drives sales, optimises supply chains and helps in improving product design for newer vehicles.
Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) - Self-driven and connected vehicles are revolutionizing the automotive segment. Human Machine Interface based systems such as voice-based systems allow drivers to communicate with their vehicles, making driving safer and less tiring. Smart virtual assistants help both drivers and passengers communicate with their vehicles.
Internet of Things - Internet of Things (IoT) enables vehicles to be connected to the internet and exchange data with various other devices. This enables remote vehicle monitoring, predictive maintenance and real-time status and location updates. The connectivity aspect and the associated intelligence are in great demand due to the growth of ride-hailing companies and service providers like Uber. Car manufacturers are also recognising the benefits of IoT technology and are offering connectivity. IoT also helps in easy payment for fuels and tolls.
3D Printing (Additive manufacturing) - 3D printing makes rapid prototyping possible to reduce the design and testing activities in production. Spare parts can be printed quickly and additive manufacturing of composite materials can help create automotive parts that are light, strong and durable leading to the creation of cars that deliver better performance.
Blockchain - Blockchain technology is transforming the automotive industry by providing secure and reliable data sharing and connectivity to enable ride-hailing and similar services. Blockchain can also help to verify the supply chain of spare parts, ensuring quality, validity and status.
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (DSCE), part of Dayananda Sagar Group of Institutions (DSI), offers 4 year, fulltime, engineering degree and a Ph.D programs in Automobile and Mechanical Engineering. The department is recognised as among the best in the university and imparts quality education backed by excellent infrastructure and experienced faculty. The syllabus incorporates the latest topics in technology such as EVs and AI enabling successful students to pursue attractive careers with leading companies.
The Department of Automobile Engineering t has attained numerous academic achievements. The Department has bagged gold medals consecutively for five years and several VTU ranks. Automobile Engineering is an allied branch of Mechanical Engineering. The duration of the course is four years, spread over eight semesters. The Automobile Engineering branch is one of the exciting branches of engineering available at the undergraduate level. The course offered at DSCE imparts a strong foundation in Automobile Engineering as it is connected to vehicle design and development, emphasising the use of present-day Analytical and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) strategies. The courses are designed to create engineers with solid modelling, experimental, and design ability and excellent communication and teamwork skills.