Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a new collaboration with Honda to transition the OEM’s automobiles from hardware-based into software-defined vehicles (SDVs). Through it, the Japanese automaker will use the Digital Proving Ground (DPG) platform, a vehicle development environment built on AWS, to develop SDVs. By combining AWS compute, generative AI, and IoT capabilities with Honda’s data lake built on AWS, Honda will accelerate its delivery of new EV capabilities and mobility solutions.
Through its partnership with AWS, Honda aims to utilize the scalable, cost-effective infrastructure needed to rapidly develop and test new SDV models. The automaker’s cloud-based DPG platform allows it to collect data that helps estimate EV driving range, visualize energy consumption and vehicle performance data, and deliver vehicle software updates. The platform will similarly help reduce Honda’s dependence on physical hardware by enabling automotive engineers to design and test cars within the cloud before they’re built, resulting in faster development timelines and significant cost savings.
Today Honda uses AWS IoT services to assist its efforts to improve vehicle quality, safety, and autonomy by helping to provide continuous software development and updates to vehicles on the road. This connectivity allows Honda to collect, transform, and transfer vehicle data to the DPG platform, allowing it to track EV battery data and schedule preventative maintenance. Honda will also use Amazon Kinesis Video Streams, a fully managed service for streaming live video from devices, to build video processing and analytics applications. Currently in development, this technology aims to analyze and store car camera footage using machine learning to detect abnormal movement outside the vehicle. For example, if implemented, this new feature could alert drivers to take corrective action in order to help avoid collisions or damage to the vehicle.
Honda is similarly using AWS generative AI services to develop personalized user experiences, such as a new solution that guides EV drivers to optimal charging stations based on current location, remaining battery, charging speed, fees, and proximity to shopping centers. This new AWS IoT Core solution enables secure, two-way, communication between internet-connected devices and the cloud. The automaker will also use Amazon Bedrock, a tool to build and scale generative AI applications, to recommend the optimal charging station based on a driver’s behavior patterns and preferences. Honda plans to launch this capability in its forthcoming 0 Series line of EVs, simplifying the search for charging stations and enabling customized charging times, limits, payments, and more.
