Ford's American Journey 2.0 – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you're even marginally interested in mobile technology, you know the future is in the cloud. Remote servers store your data, allowing you to access everything from contacts to music from a range of devices. That technology has largely been limited to mobile phones and PCs, but Ford's pioneering a new system that's set to connect the cloud to your car.
Six teams of students enrolled in Cloud Computing in the Commute at the University of Michigan have partnered with Ford's Research and Advanced Engineering program to develop a handful of applications utilizing real-time vehicle data, GPS and social networking to create a connected in-car experience like no other.
The software, dubbed "Fiestaware" and built atop Windows 7 and Microsoft's Robotics Developer Studio, allowed the teams to create services and software that utilize the vehicle's on-board internet connection to deliver a variety of information to the driver.
Each team created an app they felt would best utilize the available services, and the programs included everything from a real-time fuel consumption tool to traffic alerts and point-of-interest sharing. All the programs were tested and honed by Ford's user interface engineers, and a panel judges from FoMoCo, U-M and Microsoft picked one app as the winner.
Caravan Track (pictured above) allows drivers to set a route on a website, track participating vehicles and send the driver hazard notifications, along with a host of other information. The team that created the program will get to test out their app on the road when they depart from Ann Arbor, MI on May 14th and drive cross-country to the Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA in a kitted-out Fiesta.
Judging by the pace of development and Ford's continued innovations in the infotainment space, expect similar cloud-based services to be included in future Blue Oval products. A data-over-voice system will be available on the 2011 Fiesta and upgrades to the SYNC system are sure to make connectivity even easier going forward. Get all the details on the system, the teams and their creations, along with a video, after the jump.
The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.
FORD, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN REVEAL STUDENTS' VISION FOR FUTURE OF IN-CAR CLOUD COMPUTING APPS
As part of the research course, Cloud Computing in the Commute, six University of Michigan teams developed apps for in-car use; a panel of judges from U-M, Ford and Microsoft selected the winner based on relevance and usability
The winning app, Caravan Track, will run in a Ford Fiesta research vehicle – outfitted with prototype software running on a Windows 7 PC powered by Intel – for the "American Journey 2.0" road trip to Maker Faire
Ford continues to use the power of the crowds for app development and enhancement of its connected vehicle strategy, which aims to harness the power of social networks and cloud computing to deliver personalized content for a unique in-car experience
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 4, 2010 – Students at the University of Michigan have defined their vision for the future of in-car connectivity – a future that includes applications combining social networks, GPS location awareness, and real-time vehicle data in ways that help drivers get where they want to go efficiently, while having fun along the way.
The experimental apps were developed by students who took part in a 12-week course, Cloud Computing in the Commute, at the university. The course, initiated by Ford Research & Advanced Engineering, prototyped social networking and transportation apps as part of a larger Ford initiative called "American Journey 2.0," a joint open innovation research project involving Microsoft and Intel, offering students the chance to innovate the future of the in-car experience.
"We consider the collaboration between Ford and the University of Michigan a model for innovation and open collaboration, and it's an exciting way to help shape tomorrow's work force," said Venkatesh Prasad, group and technical leader of the Infotronics team in Ford Research & Advanced Engineering. "Our philosophy is to constantly seek new channels of innovation, and the opportunity to share Ford's platform and expertise in a university environment has been invaluable."
In the class, the students explored and built applications based on access to Ford's developmental application platform built on Windows 7 and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio, dubbed "Fiestaware," that enabled them to harness the power of social networks that safely and responsibly connect to the cloud. The software system is the first of its kind, and provides access to vehicle performance data, networking services, voice recognition, social networking tools and other data, as well as the Windows Azure cloud services platform. Students in the class were able to use the platform to conceptualize and build a new class of applications as class projects.
As part of the course, students were encouraged to explore the potential of cloud computing and natural user interfaces including voice and touch in the car. Defined as Web-based computing using services and software accessed over the Internet, rather than physically installed on a device, cloud computing is becoming a major catalyst driving development of new applications. Users are able to access cloud-based applications and process data remotely via their Internet data plan across a variety of devices, without requiring massive amounts of processing power and data storage.
Six teams of students presented their apps to a panel of judges from Ford, the University of Michigan and Microsoft. The winning application, called Caravan Track, will run on a Windows 7 PC in a Ford Fiesta research vehicle that will make a socially networked road trip from the university to Maker Faire, the world's largest do-it-yourself ideas festival in Silicon Valley, held in San Mateo, Calif., beginning May 22. The road trip will leave from Ann Arbor on May 14.
About the apps
Using technology and development tools provided by Ford, Microsoft and Intel, along with a crash course in vehicle interface design provided by Ford engineers, the six teams of students crafted these visions for the future:
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379298715721&ref=mf"
Caravan Track was judged the winning app. The software allows clusters of vehicles traveling together to track each other along the journey. After identifying a route on a main website, users can join to see fellow travelers; view vehicle telemetry including fuel level and speed; track each vehicle; map routes; send alerts about stops along the way; and send text notifications about road conditions and hazards via a multiple choice interface that eliminates the need to type. Team members include John Ciccone, Collin Hockey, Sang Park and Joe Phillips.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379251154532&ref=mf"
Fuel Tracker provides drivers with real-time feedback about fuel economy and driving habits based on past drivers on a specific route. App users upload their results for different road segments, allowing users to compare details, compete for top fuel economy and share suggestions for improving mileage along specific routes. Team members include Paul Coldren, Amy Kuo, Petch Wannissorn and Clayton Willey.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379257954702&ref=mf"
The GreenRide Challenge provides a collaborative ride-sharing system, attempting to connect drivers with potential carpool passengers in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The app is connected through Facebook, matching friends who need rides with destinations entered by the driver – and also allowing the driver to invite friends to ride. Points would be awarded for ride-sharing, providing for a possible sponsored reward component. Team members include Scott Dang, Nate Hill, Raphael Jarrouj and Bryan Summersett.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1381513291084&ref=mf"
Listen. Speak. Rate. Share. provides users in-car audio reviews for various points of interest, and also allows drivers to share their thoughts on visited locations, connecting through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other popular social media sites. Team members include James Di, Yi-wei Ma, Alok Talekar and Xiaowen Zhang.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379290435514&ref=mf"
NostraMap collects data about road and traffic conditions, giving drivers advance notice about accidents, construction, poor surfaces and other hazards. The app relies on crowd-sourcing: When a user encounters a situation, he or she draws a single character on the map display (A for accident, C for construction, etc.), which is then updated for all users to see. Team members include Murtuza Boxwala, Nader Jawad, Justin Taseski and Sui Yan.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379260154757&ref=mf"
Points-of-Interest uses a dynamic recommendation system to point drivers toward locations and businesses that match their interests but that they may not have otherwise visited. The system uses a complex algorithm to learn a driver's tastes and interests over time, allowing it to provide more tailored recommendations and learn the tastes of users with similar interests. Team members include Ryan James, Brad Rubin, Dhritiman Sagar and Weihua Wang.
Collaboration key to advancing Ford's connected vehicle strategy
Ford's work with the University of Michigan is a key facet in its plan to encourage app development for the vehicle, and at the same time harness the power of social networks and cloud computing to deliver the future of a grand tradition: the great American road trip.
"Already with SYNC®, we have proven that we can access information in the cloud," said Prasad. "This project gives us the opportunity to harness the power of student innovation to explore beyond current capabilities and develop what's next. We provided these students with the tools to innovate, and in approximately 100 days they created fun, unique and really useful results."
"This was an incredible opportunity for our students to work closely with an industrial partner on the leading edge of a growing trend," said Dr. Brian Noble, associate professor in computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan. "It's been a powerful experience showing these kids that there are really cool, high-tech problems waiting to be solved right here in Michigan. It would have been impossible without the help of Ford, Microsoft and Intel." Noble co-taught the course with U-M computer science and engineering associate professor Jason Flinn.
Working with Microsoft and Intel, Ford provided the students with a developmental application platform built on Windows 7 and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio in the vehicle to access Windows Azure in the cloud.
A project like American Journey 2.0, involving teamwork with a university's student body, represents a developmental shift for Ford as it looks for ways to use novel models of open collaboration similar to how ideas are cultivated in Silicon Valley. The goal is to deliver relevant and personalized content tailored for an individual driver's unique in-car experience.
"Through our work with Ford, the University of Michigan and Intel on this project, Microsoft is helping to further open innovation within the automotive industry and provide a consistent, connected in-vehicle experience that seamlessly integrates into consumers' digital lifestyles," said David Graff, director of U.S. Automotive and Industrial Equipment Industry Solutions for Microsoft. "We commend each of these student teams for their creativity and work in developing these applications and look forward to continued collaboration opportunities to fuel the connectivity of future in-car systems with the vast world of Windows."
Intel also contributed expertise and technology tools to the project and is proud to participate in a project with future developers who will create the next generation of innovative, connected solutions for the car. "Intel is committed to offering products and technologies that will bring new compelling and driver-safe applications to the car," said Staci Palmer, director of Strategic Market Development, Embedded and Communications Group, Intel Corporation. "Our involvement in the American Journey 2.0 project is a great example of how Intel is working with industry leaders like Ford and Microsoft as well as future developers to encourage the development of connected computing solutions for the vehicle that bring personalized and relevant content to drivers and passengers."
As part of the research course, Cloud Computing in the Commute, six University of Michigan teams developed apps for in-car use; a panel of judges from U-M, Ford and Microsoft selected the winner based on relevance and usability
The winning app, Caravan Track, will run in a Ford Fiesta research vehicle – outfitted with prototype software running on a Windows 7 PC powered by Intel – for the "American Journey 2.0" road trip to Maker Faire
Ford continues to use the power of the crowds for app development and enhancement of its connected vehicle strategy, which aims to harness the power of social networks and cloud computing to deliver personalized content for a unique in-car experience
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 4, 2010 – Students at the University of Michigan have defined their vision for the future of in-car connectivity – a future that includes applications combining social networks, GPS location awareness, and real-time vehicle data in ways that help drivers get where they want to go efficiently, while having fun along the way.
The experimental apps were developed by students who took part in a 12-week course, Cloud Computing in the Commute, at the university. The course, initiated by Ford Research & Advanced Engineering, prototyped social networking and transportation apps as part of a larger Ford initiative called "American Journey 2.0," a joint open innovation research project involving Microsoft and Intel, offering students the chance to innovate the future of the in-car experience.
"We consider the collaboration between Ford and the University of Michigan a model for innovation and open collaboration, and it's an exciting way to help shape tomorrow's work force," said Venkatesh Prasad, group and technical leader of the Infotronics team in Ford Research & Advanced Engineering. "Our philosophy is to constantly seek new channels of innovation, and the opportunity to share Ford's platform and expertise in a university environment has been invaluable."
In the class, the students explored and built applications based on access to Ford's developmental application platform built on Windows 7 and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio, dubbed "Fiestaware," that enabled them to harness the power of social networks that safely and responsibly connect to the cloud. The software system is the first of its kind, and provides access to vehicle performance data, networking services, voice recognition, social networking tools and other data, as well as the Windows Azure cloud services platform. Students in the class were able to use the platform to conceptualize and build a new class of applications as class projects.
As part of the course, students were encouraged to explore the potential of cloud computing and natural user interfaces including voice and touch in the car. Defined as Web-based computing using services and software accessed over the Internet, rather than physically installed on a device, cloud computing is becoming a major catalyst driving development of new applications. Users are able to access cloud-based applications and process data remotely via their Internet data plan across a variety of devices, without requiring massive amounts of processing power and data storage.
Six teams of students presented their apps to a panel of judges from Ford, the University of Michigan and Microsoft. The winning application, called Caravan Track, will run on a Windows 7 PC in a Ford Fiesta research vehicle that will make a socially networked road trip from the university to Maker Faire, the world's largest do-it-yourself ideas festival in Silicon Valley, held in San Mateo, Calif., beginning May 22. The road trip will leave from Ann Arbor on May 14.
About the apps
Using technology and development tools provided by Ford, Microsoft and Intel, along with a crash course in vehicle interface design provided by Ford engineers, the six teams of students crafted these visions for the future:
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379298715721&ref=mf"
Caravan Track was judged the winning app. The software allows clusters of vehicles traveling together to track each other along the journey. After identifying a route on a main website, users can join to see fellow travelers; view vehicle telemetry including fuel level and speed; track each vehicle; map routes; send alerts about stops along the way; and send text notifications about road conditions and hazards via a multiple choice interface that eliminates the need to type. Team members include John Ciccone, Collin Hockey, Sang Park and Joe Phillips.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379251154532&ref=mf"
Fuel Tracker provides drivers with real-time feedback about fuel economy and driving habits based on past drivers on a specific route. App users upload their results for different road segments, allowing users to compare details, compete for top fuel economy and share suggestions for improving mileage along specific routes. Team members include Paul Coldren, Amy Kuo, Petch Wannissorn and Clayton Willey.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379257954702&ref=mf"
The GreenRide Challenge provides a collaborative ride-sharing system, attempting to connect drivers with potential carpool passengers in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The app is connected through Facebook, matching friends who need rides with destinations entered by the driver – and also allowing the driver to invite friends to ride. Points would be awarded for ride-sharing, providing for a possible sponsored reward component. Team members include Scott Dang, Nate Hill, Raphael Jarrouj and Bryan Summersett.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1381513291084&ref=mf"
Listen. Speak. Rate. Share. provides users in-car audio reviews for various points of interest, and also allows drivers to share their thoughts on visited locations, connecting through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other popular social media sites. Team members include James Di, Yi-wei Ma, Alok Talekar and Xiaowen Zhang.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379290435514&ref=mf"
NostraMap collects data about road and traffic conditions, giving drivers advance notice about accidents, construction, poor surfaces and other hazards. The app relies on crowd-sourcing: When a user encounters a situation, he or she draws a single character on the map display (A for accident, C for construction, etc.), which is then updated for all users to see. Team members include Murtuza Boxwala, Nader Jawad, Justin Taseski and Sui Yan.
HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108014259239935&index=1" \l "!/video/video.php?v=1379260154757&ref=mf"
Points-of-Interest uses a dynamic recommendation system to point drivers toward locations and businesses that match their interests but that they may not have otherwise visited. The system uses a complex algorithm to learn a driver's tastes and interests over time, allowing it to provide more tailored recommendations and learn the tastes of users with similar interests. Team members include Ryan James, Brad Rubin, Dhritiman Sagar and Weihua Wang.
Collaboration key to advancing Ford's connected vehicle strategy
Ford's work with the University of Michigan is a key facet in its plan to encourage app development for the vehicle, and at the same time harness the power of social networks and cloud computing to deliver the future of a grand tradition: the great American road trip.
"Already with SYNC®, we have proven that we can access information in the cloud," said Prasad. "This project gives us the opportunity to harness the power of student innovation to explore beyond current capabilities and develop what's next. We provided these students with the tools to innovate, and in approximately 100 days they created fun, unique and really useful results."
"This was an incredible opportunity for our students to work closely with an industrial partner on the leading edge of a growing trend," said Dr. Brian Noble, associate professor in computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan. "It's been a powerful experience showing these kids that there are really cool, high-tech problems waiting to be solved right here in Michigan. It would have been impossible without the help of Ford, Microsoft and Intel." Noble co-taught the course with U-M computer science and engineering associate professor Jason Flinn.
Working with Microsoft and Intel, Ford provided the students with a developmental application platform built on Windows 7 and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio in the vehicle to access Windows Azure in the cloud.
A project like American Journey 2.0, involving teamwork with a university's student body, represents a developmental shift for Ford as it looks for ways to use novel models of open collaboration similar to how ideas are cultivated in Silicon Valley. The goal is to deliver relevant and personalized content tailored for an individual driver's unique in-car experience.
"Through our work with Ford, the University of Michigan and Intel on this project, Microsoft is helping to further open innovation within the automotive industry and provide a consistent, connected in-vehicle experience that seamlessly integrates into consumers' digital lifestyles," said David Graff, director of U.S. Automotive and Industrial Equipment Industry Solutions for Microsoft. "We commend each of these student teams for their creativity and work in developing these applications and look forward to continued collaboration opportunities to fuel the connectivity of future in-car systems with the vast world of Windows."
Intel also contributed expertise and technology tools to the project and is proud to participate in a project with future developers who will create the next generation of innovative, connected solutions for the car. "Intel is committed to offering products and technologies that will bring new compelling and driver-safe applications to the car," said Staci Palmer, director of Strategic Market Development, Embedded and Communications Group, Intel Corporation. "Our involvement in the American Journey 2.0 project is a great example of how Intel is working with industry leaders like Ford and Microsoft as well as future developers to encourage the development of connected computing solutions for the vehicle that bring personalized and relevant content to drivers and passengers."
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