What is Android Auto? How is it Transforming In-Vehicle Experiences?

What is Android Auto? How is it Transforming In-Vehicle Experiences?

My friends Tina, Katie and I were finally on our way to Las Vegas for the girls-only weekend getaway we had been planning for months. While we were cruising along Interstate 15, Katie (who was driving) received a phone call from home.

She fumbled with her phone while trying to reduce the volume on the car’s music player. It took her a few minutes to get her focus back on the road.

It was at this moment that a terrifying thought sprung to my mind. The stretch on I-15 where Katie received the call was one of the deadliest in the United States! I remember reading that speeding, drunk driving, failing to wear seat-belts and distracted driving were some of the top reasons for the high fatality rate on this road. Looks like we were lucky to stay safe on this road trip!

It is in situations like this when you really understand the benefits of pairing your mobile phone with the car’s infotainment system, using technology such as Android Auto, to reduce driver distraction.

Some Stats on Driver Distraction

Driver distraction has been contributing to road safety violations and accidents at an alarming rate in the US.

A recent report from the US Department of Transportation indicates that 3,142 people lost their lives and an additional 424,000 people were injured in vehicle crashes owing to driver distraction in 2019.

Today, automotive technology has advanced to a level where it is possible to monitor the driver’s behavior through AI-powered mobile apps. These apps can detect driver distraction, drowsiness, rash driving, etc. and send timely alerts to the driver.

Technologies such as Android Auto enables the driver to effortlessly attend calls, play music, and access navigation software from their phone. Let us explore the capabilities of Android Auto in detail.

What is Android Auto?

Android Auto is a software that completely runs on an Android phone with an easy-to-navigate phone interface. This software can eliminate the need for a dedicated car dashboard display for playing music or accessing navigation apps.

To enhance user experience and reduce driver distraction, Android Auto restricts the number of notification alerts that are displayed. It also facilitates text to voice conversion of messages. The driver can respond to these messages using voice as well.

Currently, Android Auto is available on all devices, except the ones that are powered by Android – Go edition.

How to Use Android Auto

Android Auto running on the driver’s phone can be extended to the car’s display through a USB cable or via wireless technology.

1. Through USB cable – Any phone with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) OS or above can be connected through a cable to the car’s infotainment system. The phone also needs an active data plan and the latest version of the Android Auto app.

   It is essential that a high-quality USB cable is used for this purpose:

   • A cable that is under 6 feet long and without any extensions will be best suited for this.
   • The cable should also have the USB icon.

   In addition, the car or the stereo should be compatible with Android Auto. Cars like Volkswagen Ameo 2017, Atlas 2018, Saveiro 2017, Teramont 2018, Tiguan 2016, Caddy 2016, and Transporter 2016 are all compatible with Android Auto. Stereos such as Alpine i209, Blaupunkt Monte Carlo 750, Panasonic Strada CN-F1D, and Sony XAV-AX100 are also compatible.

   The complete list of vehicles and stereos compatible with Android Auto are available here.

2. Through wireless technology – If the driver wants to connect their phone wirelessly to the car’s infotainment system, they require 5 GHz Wi-Fi support, an active data plan and the latest Android Auto app on their phone. The car stereo should also be compatible with Android Auto.

   All phones that connect wirelessly need to have Android 11.0 OS, except the following:

   • Samsung or Google phones can connect wirelessly with Android 10.0
   • Samsung Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S8 or Note 8 can connect wirelessly with Android 9.0

   Car owners can determine whether their vehicles are compatible with Android Auto wireless by contacting the car manufacturer.

Android Auto can be effectively used only in certain countries. They are:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Germany
• Guatemala
• France
• India
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan (wireless not supported)
• Mexico
• Norway
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Russia
• Singapore
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

How Does Android Auto Work?

One of the striking features of Android Auto is that it is capable of functioning as a standalone app on a phone. The app has been designed strategically so that it can also connect through a USB cable or Bluetooth to a car’s stereo and mirror the phone display on the infotainment touchscreen. It also integrates with the steering wheel audio controls to offer a seamless experience to the driver!

The driver receives Turn-By-Turn (TBT) navigation assistance via Google Maps, audio playing capabilities and hands-free calling though this connection.

Integration with several other apps is also supported by the platform. For instance, Waze integration can be done for navigation. Integration with music or podcast apps such as Spotify, Pandora and Pocket Casts is also possible, among several others.

If Android Auto is integrated with a chatting app like Skype/WhatsApp/Facebook Messenger, and the driver receives a message, that message is converted into voice. Such a notification is much safer, as the driver doesn’t have to look away from the road while accessing it.

What is Android Auto App?

Android Auto has a number of functionalities pre-coded on it. It also supports various other third-party apps related to information, entertainment and communications. Some of these apps have already been highlighted when we discussed about Android Auto integration – Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Pandora, Pocket Casts, Spotify, etc.

To the delight of users, the number of apps supported by Android Auto has been steadily increasing.

How to Use Android Auto Apps?

The driver has to download and install the required app on their mobile phone. They may also have the supported app already installed. In that case, no additional setup is needed to use it on the car infotainment display.

Most of the Android Auto apps authorized by Google follow some basic guidelines:

• They minimize driver distraction
• Voice commands can be used for common tasks
• They all have simple designs on the UI
• These apps show only relevant information to the driver, and in a timely manner

In addition to the above, there are also some core app quality guidelines that are followed by Google. This includes features like gesture navigation for going back to the home screen, priorities assigned for notifications, power management, etc.

Difference Between Android Auto and Android Automotive

As indicated above, Android Auto is installed on the driver’s mobile phone and connects with the infotainment system through USB or wirelessly. It also utilizes the data connection on the mobile phone. If the driver uses different cars for commuting each day, he/she would have to pair their phone with each vehicle’s infotainment system separately.

On the other hand, Android Automotive is an end-to-end platform that has been developed solely to power automotive infotainment systems. This operating system runs on the dashboard hardware, and there is no need to connect an external device like a mobile phone to it. Android Auto apps can run on Android Automotive platform as well. Our recent blog on Android Automotive gives more insights on this revolutionary platform.

Conclusion

Android Auto combines intuitive user interface designs and the familiar Android operating system to provide unbeatable user experiences to drivers and passengers alike. The platform is now compatible with a wide range of vehicles as well.

However, the greatest advantage offered by Android Auto is its ability to reduce driver distraction – a much-needed stride towards keeping our roads safe.

This entry was posted in Embedded Blog, Blog by Embitel. Bookmark the permalink