Testing Connected Cars: why it matters and what aspects to focus on

With the rapid renaissance of technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) has marked a significant place in our life. Starting from connected smart gadgets to home appliances, the latest addition which has manifested itself in our day-to-day activity is the connected cars.

According to reports, in 2020, the connected car market size was valued at USD 55.56 billion. And as every car maker is now determined to provide the next-level driving experience, the forecast says that it will grow to USD 191.83 billion in 2028, which marks a significant 18.1% CAGR from 2021 to 2028 (Source).

Therefore, it is needless to say that buyers are now expecting the best connected-car experience. And to deliver as per the promise, testing the vehicle connectivity, connected apps and voice command, even before release, is essential.

What is connected car technology?

Connected cars are the result of using high-end software technology to enhance the driving experience, which provides an efficient, easy, fulfilling, and safe driving experience. This technology connects the in-vehicle system with the internet and helps the driver to make a timely decision with accuracy and speed.

This technology is considered the base of the intelligent transport system. Modern vehicles not only interact with the driver or passengers but also communicate with each other through internet connectivity.

Why is it important to test Connected Cars

Connected cars are loaded with numerous antennas, sensors, embedded software, and the latest communication technologies. A connected vehicle, which is a product of an archetypal IoT, can upload approximately 28 GB of data to the cloud every hour (Source). Along with this, modern car software deals with 100 million lines of programming codes that control the sensors, actuators, brakes, engine performance, exhaust composition, wear and tear, safety and security.

Hence, it is evident that the system needs to perform with precision. And to ensure the system’s reliability, performance, and overall safety of human life, it is essential to test the connected car systems with various test methodologies and modules.

In addition to this, the new connected technology allows smart devices like mobiles and tablets to communicate with smart cars. Drivers and passengers can play music, access social media, check for nearby gas stations, and start navigation through voice command. All these facilities offered by the latest connected technology are now the point of attraction for the buyers.

Modern car makers need to take extra care to ensure that all these systems work as intended. Therefore, the connected vehicles need to go through every possible test case. Some of the most important test environments are:

• Testing in the laboratory: Inside the laboratory, engineers create a controlled environment to check the safety, wireless connectivity, and performance of all sensors and parts.
  
  
• Testing on-road: To check the real-world performance, the vehicles are tested practically in different road conditions to check the Safety, performance, and other parameters.
  
  
• Testing in a virtual environment: Virtual simulation is done from the practically captured data in the controlled test environment to evaluate the performance of every component.
  
  

Connected Cars: What are the aspects you need to test

Through community-based testing, it is easier to get actual and real-time results. These tests are performed by highly vetted testing professionals who can do the tests in different languages and share their real feedback during the testing phase.

In this context, there are three major aspects that require thorough testing and with every possible viewpoint.

• Vehicle connectivity: Testing the head unit, which is the connection center for the infotainment and in-vehicle applications, is the primary testing area. Along with all testing of hardware components like screens, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS navigation, and connectivity options, it is imperative to make sure that the system updates itself to offer new features to the customers.
  
  
• Connected Apps: With the increasing hunger of the modern generation, connected vehicles should be tested for not only the seamless performance of feature-loaded app connectivity but also easy accessibility under practical scenarios. Do you want to know more about how to make your product accessible? Click here. 
  
  
• Voice: Drivers and passengers are now accustomed to using voice commands while driving. Some tap their smartphones to check the direction or listen to music whether some others want to make a call. Testing the functions is vital to provide an up-level user experience.