Wait, vehicles need a Cloud too?

The goal of achieving level 5 autonomous vehicles has been in the air for a while. But watch out, clouds are beginning to form. Not to worry though, these are "good" clouds.

Cloud computing lately has constantly been on the rise, and its possible capabilities are the next big thing. Many individuals have heard of cloud computing providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure. However, the number of those individuals takes a big cut in terms of individuals who know exactly how to use them in a way that maximizes potential and benefits.

There are also the more basic examples of cloud though, including storing your files or pictures in iCloud or Google Drive. Therefore, it should not really surprise one to hear that autonomous vehicles will need their own form of cloud to efficiently communicate with one another.

While Vehicle Cloud is more of a fun, coined term…this refers to the capability and ability of autonomous vehicles to recognize, and communicate with other cars. As we do with our mouth and hands. Or for a more technical example, how we share files or images with one another via Google Drive.

To get even more specific, the Vehicle Cloud is another way of emphasizing vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems. This does exactly what the name says, it is a way for vehicles to communicate with one another. To effectively achieve this, automotive-grade, open-source platforms will need to securely and reliably manage the huge volumes of data flowing through in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems, and deliver over-the-air updates and V2V/X communications for the vehicles.

Google is one of the companies chiming in on this upcoming technology. With their popular cloud platform, they have a service called Cloud IoT Core that they employ to power this Connected Vehicle Platform.

Vehicles are transforming from individual, self-contained, transportation-focused objects to sophisticated, Internet-connected endpoints, often capable of two-way communication. The new data streams generated by modern connected vehicles drive innovative business models such as usage-based insurance, enable new in-vehicle experiences, and build the foundation for advances in vehicle technology such as autonomous driving and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.

V2V and what Google defines the Connected Vehicle Platform is a major step in getting fully autonomous vehicles. It also shows how powerful cloud computing has and will continue to become. Not to mention how 5G across the United States and other countries will progress the capability of autonomous vehicles, and connecting them through the cloud.

In every aspect, implementing the vehicle cloud effectively and efficiently will be a major feat for autonomous vehicles. One may now be wondering, why should I care about the Vehicle Cloud? Well besides getting closer to owning a fully autonomous vehicle, complete V2V communication has been said to reduce operational and ownership costs, increase mobility, and higher the efficiency for roads and parking capacity across the US!