Panasonic unveils next generation of its Connected eCockpit

Panasonic Automotive, a global expert in automotive infotainment solutions and connectivity, revealed its latest fully connected eCockpit concept at CES 2020.

The technology platform integrates Panasonic's proprietary SkipGen 3.0 in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system with Google's Android Automotive OS running on Android 10.

In the concept vehicle, SkipGen 3.0 is paired with the next generation cockpit domain controller, SPYDR 3.0. At the core, the single brain SPYDR 3.0 acts as a hypervisor and is capable of driving up to eleven displays. Both SkipGen 3.0 and SPYDR 3.0 are connected and powered by Panasonic's proprietary software and cloud platform, OneConnect. Whether sending or receiving key infotainment messages on the run, this advanced cockpit system can also seamlessly run multimedia streaming or gaming applications for passenger and rear seat entertainment.

“Infotainment will integrate more functions in the cockpit of next generation vehicles. Panasonic's software and communications cloud platform, OneConnect, acts as the bridge between a multitude of sensors being enabled in each vehicle and the real-time maps and data necessary to improve the accuracy and usability of those sensors,” said Panasonic Automotive CTO, Panasonic Automotive Systems of America, Andrew Poliak. “And that bridge of personalised relevant content will extend to all aspects of commuting, from their personal vehicle, to a shared ride, to their next flight.”

Combining forces, Panasonic Automotive and Karma Automotive, the Southern California based creator of luxury electric vehicles, integrated a connected system into the Karma SC-1 Vision Concept car. “We are more than just a car company,” said Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou. “Karma is a high-tech incubator, and a supplier to others who need our resources to speed their product development. We join like-minded partners such as Panasonic Automotive to showcase their emerging innovations and technologies. Karma's 2020 Revero GT proudly features Ficosa production antenna, shifter, switches and mirror technology. Ficosa is Panasonic family company.”

SkipGen 3.0 IVI is Panasonic's third generation in-vehicle infotainment system running on Google's Android Automotive OS, Android 10 and is also equipped with Qualcomm's Gen 3 processor Snapdragon 8155/6155. As Google's reference hardware supplier, Panasonic designs SkipGen 3.0 to deliver the most advanced infotainment spectrum of assistance and entertainment features available, many of these features can be seamlessly controlled and activated by voice.

With SkipGen 3.0's embedded connectivity and SiriusXM tuner built-in, the system will also proudly support SiriusXM with 360L. SiriusXM's most advanced audio platform delivers content via both satellite and streaming to give drivers and their passengers more than 200 live SiriusXM channels, the ability to make on-demand programming choices, “For You” recommendations, as well as SiriusXM's Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora. The SkipGen platform also features SiriusXM's latest module hardware, X28.

SPYDR 3.0 is the next evolution of Panasonic's cockpit domain controller. SPYDR 3.0 features 4K display resolution with multimedia streaming and can effectively support up to eleven information or entertainment displays in a vehicle. As such, this platform is capable of driving a variation of HUD displays, infotainment displays, rear seat and passenger seat displays all from a single brain system. Content streaming can range from interactive gaming on today's most popular systems to streaming video via the owner's application of choice. The show exhibit will demonstrate a live play gaming demo.

Panasonic's OneConnect global platform ensures vehicles are maintained and up-to-date by providing predictive maintenance reminders to the driver, while providing analytics via the platform to the OEM and end consumer. As represented in the concept vehicle, OneConnect analytics can be customised to focus on electric vehicle data to create algorithms that improve battery efficiency to optimise short and long-term state of health of the vehicle and one's total investment. OneConnect analytics and data can be stored or accessed through SkipGen or SPYDR and transferred between the OEM, the vehicle and the end consumer.