JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 13 January 2020 – At CES 2020, Samsung joined BMW to showcase new approaches to creating the mobility experiences of the future with the world’s first commercialised 5G TCU (Telematics Control Unit).

BMW announced that 2021’s BMW iNEXT will be the first car in the world to be equipped with 5G technology from Samsung and HARMAN. The two companies have long served as a development partner to the BMW Group, and will continue helping automotive manufacturers develop vital innovations to serve the ever-changing needs of the rapidly evolving automotive market.

“As we enter the new decade of autonomous driving reality, we see great opportunities to experience many smart phone features that enable this new era of mobility as a service,” said Young Sohn, Corporate President and Chief Strategy Officer for Samsung Electronics and Chairman of the Board for HARMAN. “One of the core enabling technologies is 5G. 5G’s low latency, massive density, device awareness, and super-fast download speeds enable new capabilities and experiences critical for autonomous driving systems of this decade. We look forward to our close partnership with BMW to bring Samsung’s 5G TCU technology delivered to its next generation of cars and provide the ultimate driving experience.”

“For nearly 30 years, Samsung and HARMAN have been key partners for the BMW Group,” said Klaus Frölich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “In 2021 we will launch the BMW iNEXT, the world’s first car with Samsung’s 5G technology, and we look forward to spreading this over the whole portfolio. Together, we can seamlessly connect the car to the world of our customers and beyond.”

Samsung and HARMAN showcased core automotive technologies including: ADAS, AI, semiconductors, memory, batteries, user interface, car audio, driver experiences, and 5G. The 5G-capable TCU brings together some of these key technologies and links external networks to onboard electronics systems and provides essential, real-time information to drivers in a range of road situations. Some of the key capabilities include downloading high-resolution HD maps in real-time and V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) to deliver risk assessment and blind spot information to the driver. In addition, Samsung showcased its new conformal antenna technology, which can be integrated with the 5G-ready TCU, providing a replacement for the conventional external car shark-fin antenna, and supporting stable network connections.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 10 January 2020 – At CES 2020, Samsung unveiled Digital Cockpit 2020, which utilises 5G to link features inside and outside the vehicle and provide connected experiences for drivers and passengers alike.

Digital Cockpit 2020 is the third co-development between Samsung Electronics and HARMAN International, and combines Samsung’s telecommunications technologies, semiconductors and displays with HARMAN’s automotive expertise. The solution enables seamless two-way connections between the home, the office and all the other spaces that users may visit while providing personalised experiences and in-car infotainment. What’s more, smart features enabled through Bixby actively support the driver, further reinforcing safe driving.

Digital Cockpit 2020 incorporates eight displays inside the vehicle, as well as eight cameras. The solution utilises Samsung Exynos Auto V9 SoC (System on Chip), a semiconductor for vehicle electronics, and Android 10, which allow for several features to be run at the same time.

Tailored Infotainment Delivery

Once the driver logs in using either facial recognition or a smartphone fingerprint reader, the Center Information Display can be used to show the driver’s schedule and a range of other information.

The Digital Cockpit’s Front Display provides visual navigation information and is positioned to ensure that the driver keeps their eyes on the road. It is equipped with QLED Local Dimming¹technology and split-screen mode to allow passengers to make use of the display without distracting the driver.

The Dashboard Display, which is seamlessly incorporated into the vehicle’s interior design, is positioned under the Front Display and delivers visual notices and alerts.

When the driver activates Samsung’s Bixby voice recognition service, this display shows a Bixby animation that listens to the driver’s commands.

The Console Display is located under the Center Information Display. It can be set up to control various features and the functions of other displays, as well as the vehicle itself.

Passengers sitting in the back seats can connect their personal tablets to the Digital Cockpit and use them to control things like air conditioning, ambient lighting and vehicle speakers. They will also be able to enjoy multimedia content and other services provided by the system on their devices once they are connected.

When the driver or passengers connect their mobile devices to Samsung DeX² for vehicles, they will be able to read and work on documents from their PCs on the car’s Center Information Display. The display also has a feature that allows users to connect multiple mobile devices at the same time. Unlike the 2019 Digital Cockpit, the 2020 solution allows for these connections to be made wirelessly.

The Digital Cockpit 2020 also features multi-zone audio, which allows each passenger to listen to their own music via speakers embedded in the headrests of their seats.

Enhancing Safety According to Individual Needs

On the back of the vehicle, micro LEDs on the external tail lamps are used to form the 53.7-inch Tail Display. With V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communication technology and the Tail Display, the vehicle can share messages and communicate the driver’s status to parties outside the vehicle when required. For example, the display might show messages such as “roadworks ahead” and “pedestrians approaching”, among others.

Inside the vehicle, two 7-inch displays – one on the left and one on the right – serve as displays for the Camera Monitoring System, which replace the conventional side mirrors in the Digital Cockpit 2020. The system monitors possible risks on the rear lateral sides of the vehicle while the user is driving or parking. In addition, the driver can adjust the areas that the cameras monitor according to their preferences.

Meanwhile, the Cabin Talk feature allows the driver to conveniently talk to the passengers in the back seats without needing to turn their head.

Smarter “Bixby in the car” Actively Communicates with Drivers

Digital Cockpit 2020 operates based on the Android platform for cars. This allows Samsung’s integrated IoT platform SmartThings to work in tandem with the revamped “Bixby in the car” to enhance connectivity by allowing the vehicle to actively communicate with the driver. For example, when someone visits your house, Bixby in the car detects the visitor via SmartThings and notifies you of the visit. Not only that, but Bixby can also make suggestions regarding turning lights and home appliances on at your house while you’re on the way home.

What’s more, Bixby in the car also monitors the driver’s status via the Driver Monitoring System, and tailors its suggestions to the driver’s perceived needs. For example, when you are growing drowsy during a long-distance drive, the system may suggest turning on some music, or taking other precautions to combat drowsiness.

Smarter Bixby in the car establishes an environment that is carefully tailored to suit the driver’s needs and circumstances. What’s more, the system actively monitors the status of the vehicle (things such as engine oil levels), and Bixby alerts the driver when a visit to a maintenance shop is needed.

^{1 Samsung’s QLED Local Dimming technology allows for the brightness in the screen to be selectively adjusted according to what is being displayed at the time
2 Samsung DeX is a service that allows mobile devices to connect to and realise an environment similar to a PC anywhere, anytime}