{"id":3353,"date":"2011-03-19T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2011-03-19T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbach.net\/blog\/?p=3353"},"modified":"2021-07-30T09:38:09","modified_gmt":"2021-07-30T13:38:09","slug":"car-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/car-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Car Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

GM Ventures Invests in Powermat<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"GM<\/a>Xconomy \u2013 Detroit<\/a> <\/em>reports<\/a> that GM Ventures<\/a>, the Detroit<\/a>\u00a0-based car maker’s venture capital arm has invested $5 million in Powermat<\/a> the Commerce Township, MI<\/a> start-up. A multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal with Powermat gives General Motors<\/a> (GM)<\/a> exclusive rights to place the company\u2019s portable-device charging technology in its cars for a year. according to Micky Bly<\/a>, the company\u2019s director of hybrid vehicles. The Chevy Volt<\/a> and certain Cadillac<\/a> models will be the first GM cars to the Powermat accessories. The New York Times<\/a><\/em> reports<\/a> that at this year’s CES GM demonstrated four wireless charging positions in the Chevy Volt.<\/p>\n

GM Ventures has also invested in Indiana-based electric car startup Bright Automotive<\/a> and Ann Arbor-based battery developer Sakti3<\/a>. Also, see this earlier post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Car Theft by Antenna<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Keyless<\/a>MIT\u2019s<\/a> Technology Review<\/a><\/em> reports<\/a> that researchers at ETH Zurich<\/a> in Switzerland have successfully attacked passive keyless entry and start systems from eight different car manufacturers\u2019. The researchers examined 10 car models from eight manufacturers. They were able to take all 10 by intercepting and relaying signals from the cars to their wireless keys because the key transmits its signals up to around 100 meters. The attack works no matter what cryptography and protocols the key and car use to communicate with each other.<\/p>\n

The researchers tested a few scenarios. An attacker could watch a parking lot and have an accomplice watch as car owners entered a nearby store. The accomplice would only need to be within eight meters of the targeted owner\u2019s key fob, making it easy to avoid arousing suspicion. In another scenario, a car owner might leave a car key on a table near a window. An antenna placed outside the house was able to communicate with the key, allowing the researchers then to start the car parked out front and drive away.<\/p>\n

The researchers concluded that manufacturers will need to add secure technology that allows the car to confirm that the key is in fact nearby.<\/p>\n

New Standard for Automotive-Grade Wireless Modules <\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Connected<\/a>Sierra Wireless<\/a> (SWIR<\/a>) recently introduced what the firm calls, the industry\u2019s first suite of embedded wireless technology modules designed specifically for automotive manufacturers. The Canadian firm is banking on the emerging trend to include telematics, infotainment, navigation assistance, and remote diagnostics in new cars within the next few years according to an article<\/a> on ITNewsLink.com<\/em><\/a>. The firm believes these applications will need reliable built-in connections to cellular networks. The new Sierra Wireless modules will use 2G and 3G network technologies and frequency bands used worldwide to provide the connectivity customers are demanding.<\/p>\n

The manufacturer says these units are the first wireless modules developed from the ground up to achieve compliance with automotive specifications.\u00a0 ITNewsLink.com<\/em> says the Sierra Wireless AirPrime AR Series design encompasses:<\/p>\n