Alcatel-Lucent, Toyota Drive LTE Connected Car into Concept Spotlight

by Nicholas Kolakowski

The LTE Connected Car attempts to turn a vehicle into a smartphone on wheels, combining navigation, entertainment and communication technology in a single platform.

Alcatel-Lucent merged an LTE broadband radio link with an in-car Wi-Fi environment, giving drivers and passengers access to a full range of multimedia applications. Each of the vehicle’s four touch screens can independently display different types of content.

Through the cloud, passengers can access not only music, but also video and online games.

Thanks to the always-on connectivity, the driver can constantly receive real-time traffic, weather and road condition alerts.

The concept car allows users to watch YouTube videos. When the car is in Drive mode, however, the driver can only use his or her display to access driving-related applications such as navigation.

The screens offer a very visual way to control speakers throughout the car.

In addition to being able to control multimedia functions, the driver can use the screen to adjust environmental aspects such as temperature.

Besides maps, the concept car offers real-time GPS updates with point-of-interest overlays, allowing drivers to find restaurants and other needed locations within their immediate area.

Alcatel-Lucent brought together a diverse ecosystem of partners, including Atlantic Records, QNX Software Systems and Toyota, to create the concept vehicle.

The car’s technology takes advantage of pre-existing sensors to continually monitor things such as tire pressure, allowing drivers to anticipate problems (and earn a little peace of mind).

The concept car will remind drivers when they need to take the vehicle in for maintenance.

Drivers and passengers can make calls through the car’s integrated systems, as well as sign into their social networks and send text messages.

The car can be linked to home automation or security systems, letting driver or passengers adjust home climate control and lighting or even view streaming video feeds from security cameras.