Eye On Electronics

Motor, Jan 2004 by Dale, Mike

Bluetooth, as a means of making hands-free cell phone use possible, is the first application you'll see in vehicles. This feature is available now as a factory-installed option (called UConnect) on the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica. Dealer-installed versions are available for other Chrysler vehicles. Companies like Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Nokia offer add-on versions, with prices generally in the range of $225.

As you might expect, there's a governmental aspect to the Bluetooth story. Several states have already passed laws prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. More states are considering this move based on the number of accidents that have been attributed to hand-held cell phone use. It may very well be that at some point, it will become a federal requirement that vehicles be Bluetooth-equipped from the factory.

Still, the cell phone application is only the tip of the tip of the iceberg. It's estimated that 120 million sets of the silicon chips needed to make Bluetooth happen will be installed in motor vehicles and products like PDAs and portable computers in 2004. At about $3.50 per set in large production quantities, adding this capability to a vehicle becomes very affordable.

This wireless technology is capable of so many things. Bluetooth can be used to link a customers cell phone to the various vehicle computers. The day is coming when you'll be able read diagnostic codes from a stranded vehicle via the drivers cell phone before you send the tow truck. When you pull a vehicle into a service bay, Bluetooth will be able to send signals to your diagnostic equipment to show you the VIN and any diagnostic codes, plus automatically pull up the vehicles service history from your database.

In terms of your shop computers, the more complicated and higher speed Wi-Fi version of this technology means your computer keyboard and mouse will no longer need to be connected to your computer by cables. The same goes for your digital camera, your printer and anything else you might want to connect. All you have to do is to bring the pieces within range of each other and they'll link up automatically.

This could also have a major impact on the construction of the vehicle itself. Instead of having hard-wired networks like the CAN bus to connect all the sensors, it might be possible to have them all linked by Bluetooth. You'd still need power and ground wires, but the information could be handled without the need for wires, cables and interconnections.

There do remain some concerns about the widespread installation of Bluetooth into vehicles. Car owners are used to 10-yr./150,000-mi. operation at any temperature or climate extreme. This is a lot longer than the average consumer expects his or her home computer or cell phone to last. It will have to be proven that electronics and the hardware can meet this level of longevity.

Another issue is voice recognition. If the cell phone is to be truly handsfree, it will have to recognize voice instructions that may come in a southern drawl, a Brooklyn twang or a Hispanic accent. Furthermore, if these systems are going to be global, many different languages-with all their dialects-will have to be recognized. Much work has already been done in this area, and several companies claim to have working systems.