Imagine a single technology that can reduce a vehicle’s fuel consumption, foresee when maintenance is needed and display everything on the car owner’s smartphone. Bosch says it has developed a comprehensive connectivity platform solution that can do all of these things — a solution, moreover, that is tailored to the Indian market.
In line with its “in the region-for-the-region” strategy, Bosch presented its Intelligent Transport Management System (iTraMS) at the Bosch’s Technology Exposition in Noida, on Feb. 3. Its features include tracking of vehicle location, condition monitoring and performance analysis. The flexible new Bosch solution works in passenger cars, commercial vehicles and off-highway vehicles. iTraMS is not only available in newly produced cars, but also as a retrofit solution. By making it available for as many vehicles as possible, Bosch says it is helping to speed up the transition to safer and more ecological driving.
At a press conference in Delhi, Dr. Markus Heyn, member of the Bosch board of management, stressed the importance of local development, noting: “Bosch’s iTraMS platform is a connectivity solution tailored to the Indian market. It provides accurate vehicle-information on your smartphone and can immensely reduce everyday driving cost.”
The solution goes even further: the key benefits of this platform also include fleet management, essential and emergency services, off-road applications and intelligent transport solutions as part of smart-city solutions.
Innovation: a special strength of Bosch
“Bosch’s continuous success in innovation is a result of our unwavering commitment to solving problems that will benefit the society as a whole. Bosch in India is no exception: we offer products that are beneficial and applicable across a wide spectrum,” Dr. Heyn remarked. In India, Bosch has placed great emphasis on innovation, talent acquisition and developing world-class facilities. Presently, Bosch in India has more than 14,000 research and development engineers. In 2015, the Bosch Group in India filed for more than 200 patents.
Another outstanding example for local development is Bosch’s “e-Call,” which was developed with contributions by the Bosch India engineering team. It truly resonates with the companies “Invented for life” ethos. Vehicles equipped with the safety system trigger an automated emergency call whenever a crash happens. Using data-mining techniques, the solution considers variables such as real-time vehicle, accident and environmental information to estimate the probability of severe injury. This information can be used by emergency service providers to prioritize the type of ambulance service needed to reach an accident location.
Connected vehicles are safer, more comfortable and more efficient
Commenting on the possibilities of connected vehicles, Dr. Heyn said: “Currently, infotainment systems in India are mostly retrofit, with touch and display screens gaining popularity in the market. As smartphone integration picks up, personal vehicles are becoming an active part of the internet.”
For example, Bosch’s mySPIN is a smartphone integration solution that creates a device-vehicle link to ensure safe and reliable in-car use. It allows users to continue using their preferred apps on their iOS or Android smartphones in the usual way, without having to compromise safety. mySPIN also facilitates continuous access to online music services, social networks and a wide range of smartphone apps.
