QNX acoustics technology shortlisted for 2014 embedded AWARD

Okay, first things first. I didn't get the capitalization wrong. The name of the award really is spelled that way. I thought it odd at first, but I'm getting used to it. And besides, who am I to complain? After all, I spend a good part of my life promoting a product whose name is spelled all uppercase, and... where was I? Oh yes, the award!

Every year, the folks who organize the embedded world Exhibition&Conference hold the embedded AWARDs, which honor the most innovative software, hardware, and tools for embedded developers. And this year, the competition judges selected QNX Acoustics for Active Noise Control as a finalist in the software category.

If you aren’t familiar with our ANC solution, allow me to provide an overview — which will also help explain why the embedded AWARD judges are so impressed.

Automakers need to reduce fuel consumption. And to do that, they employ techniques such as variable engine displacement and operating the engine at lower RPM. These techniques may save gas, but they also result in "boom" noise that permeates the car's interior and can lead to driver distraction. And who needs more distraction?

QNX Acoustics for Active Noise Control can integrate 

seamlessly into a vehicle's infotainment system.

To reduce this noise, automakers use ANC, which plays “anti-noise” (sound proportional but inverted to the offending engine tones) over the car's speakers. The problem is, existing ANC systems require dedicated hardware, which adds design complexity, not to mention significant Bill of Materials costs. And who needs more costs?

Enter QNX Acoustics for ANC. Rather than use dedicated hardware, QNX ANC provides a software library that can run on the existing DSP or CPU of the car's head unit or audio system. This approach not only reduces hardware costs, also enables better performance, faster development, and more design flexibility. I could go on, but I will let my colleague Tina Jeffrey provide the full skinny.

Did I mention? This wouldn’t be the first time QNX Software Systems is tapped for an embedded AWARD. It has won two so far, in 2006 and 2004, for innovations in multi-core and power-management technology. It was also a finalist in 2010, for its persistent publish/subscribe messaging. Here's to making it a hat trick.

This post first appeared on the QNX Auto Blog.

Adding sound to eliminate sound: a new solution for noisy engines

Car engines have been getting noisier.
But chances are, you haven't noticed. That's because automakers have been taking measures to mask the noise.

So where is the noise coming from? Automakers need to reduce fuel consumption. And to do that, they are employing techniques such as variable cylinder management and operating the engine at lower RPM. These techniques can result in more "boom" that permeates the car's interior.

So how are automakers masking the noise? Well, it's not by adding damping materials. In fact, many automakers are removing such materials to help make their cars lighter and more fuel efficient — a practice that can allow more engine sound to reach the driver and passengers.

The weapon of choice is, paradoxically, sound. By playing “anti-noise” (i.e. sound that is directly proportional but inverted to the offending engine tones) over the car’s speakers, automakers can, in effect, make engine noise disappear. This approach is similar to noise-cancelling headphones, but targeted specifically at engine sounds. It's also more complicated, as it must take into account the unique acoustic properties of each vehicle model — properties that change when you open and close windows, add or remove passengers, and so on.

Now here's the thing: The active noise control (ANC) systems currently used by automakers require dedicated hardware. This adds cost and complexity. So the acoustics engineers at QNX have come up with a different approach: a software-based solution that can run on existing infotainment or audio hardware. The result is significantly lower Bill of Materials costs and an ANC solution that integrates better with other audio tasks, including hands-free calling.

Mind you, there are other benefits as well. But don't take it from me. Check out this blog post from my inestimable colleague Tina Jeffrey, who provides the full skinny on the new QNX Acoustics for Active Noise Control product and why it offers a better approach to traditional solutions.

New video: Your next car, imagined

It blows my mind, but some people still see connectivity in the car as the enemy. They think that, the more connected the car, the more distracting and dangerous it will be. But you know what? Responding to their concerns is easy. I simply ask them what if.

For instance, what if connectivity helped you drive with greater situational awareness? What if it helped you sidestep traffic jams and axle-busting pot holes? What if it helped you detect a stop sign hidden behind a tree? And what if it helped you become more connected to the people important to you, as well as to the road and the cars around you?

When we talk connectivity at QNX, that’s the kind of connectivity we envision. It isn’t just about Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or LTE — that’s only the plumbing. Rather, it’s about keeping you in tune and in sync with your car, your environment, your business, your friends. Your life.



This post originally appeared on the QNX auto blog.

QNX unveils new reference vehicle with Facebook integration and re-skinnable dash

Your ride is about to get personal.

Early this morning, QNX took the wraps off its new reference vehicle, a specially modified Jeep Wrangler — think of it as a software reference design on wheels.

The Jeep offers an example of how developers can use the QNX CAR 2 platform to build digital instrument clusters and infotainment systems, using standard technologies like OpenGL ES and HTML5. In particular, it shows how the platform can help in-car systems become both personalizeable and social-media savvy.

For instance, the Jeep includes:

a re-skinnable digital instrument cluster

a re-skinnable infotainment system

Facebook integration, controlled by voice commands

integration with a variety of popular smartphones

an HTML5 framework

one-touch pairing with Bluetooth smartphones using NFC

high-definition hands-free audio

tablet-based rear-seat entertainment

a virtual mechanic

text-to-speech and natural speech recognition

The list goes on. For a quick pictorial guide to the Jeep, check out my post on the QNX auto blog. And for more details, read the press releases QNX issued this morning on the Jeep's personalization and Facebook features.

Speaking of Facebook, you can find even more photos of the Jeep on the QNX Facebook page, where you can also see status updates posted by the Jeep itself. (BTW, my marketing colleagues tell me to tell you to "like" the page. So be a dear and hit the Like button... pretty please?)


A view of the Jeep's head unit. See more photos on the QNX auto blog.
 

What has the QNX auto team been up to?

Well, let's see:

• Paul can't decide which concept car he'd rather drive
   
• Andy fields some questions about HTML5
   
• Andy fields even more questions about HTML5
   
• Scott gets serious about driver distraction
   
• Linda gets in touch with her inner etymologist
   
• The team meets up with SlashGear at Mobile World Congress
   

THE LOUDEST QNX VIDEO EVER!!!

Sorry for shouting, but I wanted you to hear me above the racket. Mind you, if I were using a handsfree system based on QNX's acoustic processing suite, I wouldn't have to shout for you to hear me.

Confused yet? Just check out this video, which pits sonic mayhem against QNX technology, and all will be revealed:



In case you're wondering, the suite doesn't prevent you from hearing sirens and other important sounds. Rather, it helps ensure that the person on the other end of the call hears you clearly, and vice versa. This clarity can help lighten your cognitive load, so, if anything, you are more, not less, aware of what's happening around you. How cool is that?
 

Some people drive me to distraction

Hey, have you ever panned your camera? It's really easy: You just track a moving subject with your camera and then squeeze the shutter while both you and the subject are in motion. It's a great technique for creating images that evoke a sense of speed, which makes it popular among photographers for Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and other automotive magazines.

When you pan, you never really know what kind of image you're going to get. Often, the results are interesting. And sometimes, they're downright interesting. Take this shot, for example:



Now, holding a cellphone while rocketing down the highway is just plain wrong. To anyone who does it, I have one thing to say: "You're endangering other people's lives for the sake of a f***ing phone call. Where the hell do you get off doing that?"

But look at this guy. He's isn't holding a phone, but a coffee — even worse. Just imagine if he gets into a situation that demands quick, evasive action. He will, in all likelihood, hold on to the cup for fear of burning himself. Whereas if he had a phone, he would simply drop it and put his hand back on the wheel.

Admittedly, I have no data to prove that coffee cups pose a greater evil than cellphones. But the core issue remains: Cellphone use is just one of many factors that contribute to driver distraction. In fact, research suggests that cellphones account for only 5% of distraction-related accidents that end in injury.

So, even if every cellphone on the planet disappeared tomorrow, we would still have a massive problem on our hands. To that end, my colleagues Scott Pennock and Andy Gryc suggest a new approach to designing vehicle cockpit systems in their paper, "Situational Awareness: a Holistic Approach to the Driver Distraction Problem."

The paper explores how system designers can use the concept of situational awareness to develop a vehicle cockpit that helps the driver become more aware of objects and events on the road, and that adapts in-vehicle user interfaces to manage the driver’s cognitive load.

It's worth a read. And who knows, perhaps someone, someday, will develop a cockpit system that detects if you are sipping something and tells you what you need to hear: "Dammit Jack, put that cup down. It's not worth endangering other people's lives for the sake of a f***ing latté."

This post originally appeared in the QNX auto blog.