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Follow UsSAN FRANCISCO, USA: Ford and Bug Labs, an open-source hardware and software provider, announce a joint development project to research, develop and distribute open-source developer tools to collaborate on a new in-car research platform named OpenXC.
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Based on Bug Labs' Bug System, OpenXC transforms the car into a plug-and-play platform where interchangeable open-source hardware and software modules can be quickly and easily customized to perform tasks deemed previously unimaginable by developers.
"OpenXC is about creating a platform that is totally accessible to the developer community and quickly incorporates local market needs to offer innovative solutions at an affordable price point," said K. Venkatesh Prasad, senior technical leader, Infotronics, Ford Research and Innovation.
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He added, "The platform is designed to help us answer the question of how Ford can accelerate the car connectivity experience around the globe, at a value proposition, for both mature and emerging markets.”
Peter Semmelhack, founder and CEO of Bug Labs, agrees that an open-source platform approach such as OpenXC offers up limitless possibilities for customizing the in-car experience to meet the different market needs around the globe.
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"Combining open, modular hardware and software innovation with the next generation of vehicles reinforces Ford's position as the world’s automotive technology leader," said Semmelhack. "We are thrilled by the opportunity to collaborate with Ford on such a pioneering project."
Ford researchers hope that lessons learned through the OpenXC research project will help prepare the company for such unique market conditions around the globe as diverse local languages and dialects, fast-changing content preferences, and the need for affordable "buy as you can" or even rental app solutions.
Innovation sandbox
OpenXC platform is designed to give Ford researchers and independent developers the ultimate sandbox to play in with minimal investment, where any and all ideas, concepts and theories for in-car connectivity can be shared, tested and verified.
"OpenXC gives us the ultimate sandbox to play in, where we can collaborate with technology innovators such as Bug Labs, share ideas with the crowd, and then test out our theories together so as those billions of drivers around the world start demanding more connectivity in the car, Ford will be best positioned to deliver it to them," said Prasad.