M2M Automotive Technology

If you’ve ever seen any of the Termintor movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, you have an idea of the possible capabilities of M2M (Machine to Machine) technology. The concept of artificial intelligence becoming “self-aware” and starting a rebellion and eventual destruction of the human race probably isn’t too far away. Although for now, M2M is helping engineers alike make some very innovative advancements in the automotive industry. From a conceptual standpoint, M2M technology involves using a device (Sensor, SIM Card) in a machine to monitor levels of activity or a status change. This detailed data is then reported to another device via an IP network to analyze the information and initiate a response for further action. Currently, the main focus of M2M technology in the automotive industry is to understand driver behavior and vehicle performance while in motion.

In automobiles, SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) cards are being utilized to send wireless data through a secure mobile network to a receiving device which will process the data. OEM’s and dealerships are using this data to optimize engineering designs and remotely notify drivers of potential problems in their vehicle before they arise. With this approach, dealerships can increase revenue and improve customer safety by having real-time data of potential hazards that could occur and notify their customers to come in for repairs or maintenance. In fact, by 2015 all new cars sold in the Europe Union will be required to have M2M technology that will allow their car to automatically notify an emergency center in the closest proximity in the event of an accident.

This notification will include but is not limited to: time of accident, travel direction, precise location of accident, and vehicle speed upon impact. The EU commission estimates that this technology will increase initial emergency response time by 50% and therefore reduce annual fatalities by 10%. Currently, only 0.7% of vehicles in the EU are equipped with some type of automated emergency system. However, before full implementation of the eCall service, many obstacles will need to be reviewed such as the issue of consumer privacy by having mandatory SIM cards in each vehicle, language settings, and communications protocol.

Overall, machine to machine technology is the new era of innovation as companies are working vigorously to find new ways of gathering and analyzing consumer data to revolutionize their products and services. Analysts in the automotive sector are predicting the utilization of M2M technology to generate over $200 billion in new revenue by 2020 with over 50 billion active connected devices. With the introduction of the autonomous car in the next few years, this number could very well be on par with its prediction.

On the Mark Recruiting Specialists, Inc. specializes in the recruitment and placement of professionals in the automotive sector. The heart of our business is automotive electronics and advanced electronic technologies that include wireless, telematics, M2M, Hybrid, electric vehicle, solar, and alternative energy markets. We have earned a reputation of successful performance; only the most highly qualified candidates are presented to our customers.