Today, IoT is driving the automotive industry 4.0. It has become a cornerstone of industrial ecosystems, especially in automotive 4.0. With its ability to quickly refine production chains, the automotive sector is a prime example, symbolizing industrialists’ capacity to coordinate and monitor all activities of manufacturing and production chains in real-time. This mature market is a true case study.
Multiple uses of IoT in automotive industry 4.0
Present at every stage of the production chain (from R&D to logistics, through to assembly lines), IoT has become entrenched in usage, and the automotive industry is ahead in this digital turn. Incompressible manufacturing cycles are a strong constraint, especially for a competitive market like that of automobiles.
The stakes for manufacturing chains are considerable:
- The necessity to be quick to adapt to market pace.
- The management of transport and installation of complex and costly parts, sometimes bulky like engines or bodywork.
- The deployment of an increasing number of sensors and electronics.
This complex machinery must meet the challenge of automating the production chain. It includes managing the flow between different manufacturing centers, various assets, and parts and packaging that require real-time tracking to guarantee the state, quality, and location of different elements at all times…
It is now difficult to do without for anyone who wishes to remain in the race to conquer and retain customers. Yet, the integration of sensors poses a challenge, both during the assembly phase or in the aftermarket, in terms of feasibility and implementation costs.
An Evolving Sector
Over time, new regulations like the OBD (On-Board Diagnostic) standard, which measures vehicle pollutant emissions, have become mandatory today and “open” the computer. The OBD port can be considered “a port to the computer,” allowing for significant information to be obtained on most equipment.
The sector and the ecosystem of stakeholders also demonstrate their capacity to capitalize on and integrate numerous IoT technologies:
The multitude of technologies utilized is an asset but also adds complexity to ensure the smooth collection and transfer of data to the manufacturer. Today, suppliers connect the vehicle not only to follow technical data related to safety and car maintenance but also to provide access to info-tainment and services.
Concrete advantages for manufacturers on a daily basis
Thanks to IoT, industrialists can optimize their international activities every day. With factories located all around the world, it’s a real necessity, due to:
- Transportation constraints,
- Just-in-time operations, both for cost optimization and constant adaptation to the market while being reactive.
The growing presence of IoT stems from the need for automation of processes and real-time tracking of all circulation of parts composing vehicles. Manufacturers also need to perform precise monitoring of their production plants and inter-plant flows. Indeed, in this context, the risks of delays, loss, or damage to material increase. Plus, the intervention of third parties and the multiplication of subcontractors since the ’70s have created an imperative of interconnection. The two key challenges of industry 4.0 aim to ensure the smooth running of all operations as well as service quality and preventive maintenance.
Improvement in vehicle efficiency and safety
In the future, IoT will contribute even more than it does today to the efficiency of cars and the safety of users by enabling the prevention and anticipation of potential anomalies or obsolescence of parts or functionalities. IoT also relays technical data from the vehicle and ensures the tracking of the quality of services offered. The reliability and durability of parts, as well as the increased use of preventive maintenance, are thus becoming key challenges of industry 4.0. Indeed, these challenges allow manufacturers to ensure that their offerings are of high quality. Thanks to IoT, the automobile has become a true “computer on wheels.” Manufacturers can also have a better understanding of the vehicle and its life cycle.
New uses and hypotheses for the future
On one hand, the emergence of the connected vehicle and services coincides with the growth of electric vehicles. Electric cars are necessarily connected to provide indications regarding:
- The level of charge,
- The quality monitoring of the battery,
- The nearest charging point, etc.
This evolution goes hand in hand with the global context of decarbonization. On the other hand, the movement towards autonomous vehicles is set to transform the relationship around the triangle of manufacturer(s)–driver(s)–vehicle(s). Indeed, shared services are already shaking up this equation, occupying an increasingly central place. At the same time, mobility services bring their share of regulatory and ethical issues.
With the emergence of autonomous vehicles, sensors will become an indispensable aid to drivers or will even determine the responsibility of the parties involved in an accident. The relationship between suppliers, drivers, and vehicles is also evolving with the democratization of technological potential. It is also oriented around the comfort and safety of users. IoT and its many sensors play a predominant role in these interactions. Without it, these technological advances and the provision of multiple services to users would be impossible.
IoT’s place in the industry is decidedly permanent, especially in the automotive sector. The extent of its field of possibilities remains to be discovered and exploited. It is no doubt that other industrial sectors will closely observe these advancements and take advantage of them by adapting them to their area of expertise.