Vehicle Data Privacy Is An Issue We Are Not Talking About Yet At All

Vijay Ratnaparkhe, MD and president of Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private Limited (RBEI), talks about technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and data privacy

Is engineering electronics for automobiles more complex?

In general, I would say any of the automotive products has a bigger grind than, for example, if needs to get into, a radio. If Mahindra is looking at another platform, let’s take as an example. I think okay, the next year’s version of the car is coming and, say, I need a little more space [for my gadget/ technology]. This might mean there is a little modification on an existing piece of technology. But in the car there is vibration, there is heat, there are interferences. There is a whole lot of testing that has to be done, especially in automotive products. Therefore, it takes time. And although it [any small upgrade] might be on a similar platform, tiny changes always take time.

Microelectromechanical sensors or MEMs: how different is complexity of the micro-accelerometer in the IMU from the equivalents before it?

The sensing part itself is not different. The difference comes from whether it is an IP67 product or an IP33 product. It has to be completely waterproof. It should run after being in water for 1 hour. The sensor element is the same. You have to put a casing. You have to put waterproofing. Unfortunately, many times what I’ve seen is that it has not always been possible. Then [in time], I have an idea that is technically now possible. You think it is solved. But now I want to test and demonstrate that it is really waterproof. Then even to have a testing possibility and a testing facility, especially when you are making it for the first time — all of this takes time.

Does the cost of manufacturing fall over time? IMUs haven’t really reached affordable motorcycles yet...