Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

2010 Land Rover Range Rover : QNX and Visteon Collaborate to Deliver Digital Instrument Cluster

|
Get the best interest rate
Khatir Soltani
Press release
Source: QNX Software Systems

OTTAWA, Aug. -- QNX Software Systems today announced that automotive supplier Visteon Corporation has chosen the award-winning QNX((R)) Neutrino((R)) realtime operating system (RTOS) as the software foundation for the digital instrument cluster in the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover.


The new QNX-based cluster replaces traditional mechanical instruments with a high-resolution TFT LCD that displays a virtual speedometer, virtual gauges, and other information. Highly flexible, the cluster can dynamically reconfigure itself as the vehicle shifts from one drive mode to another, providing drivers with the most appropriate information for every road condition. Measuring 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide, the cluster is the largest TFT LCD ever to ship in a vehicle, providing Land Rover with tremendous display flexibility.

The Range Rover digital instrument cluster takes advantage of the high speed, low system costs, and ultra-reliable architecture of the QNX Neutrino RTOS, which has been deployed in millions of in-vehicle systems. Highly scalable, the QNX Neutrino RTOS also serves as the foundation for a variety of other successful Visteon products, including navigation units, handsfree modules, radios, and infotainment systems.

Visteon also benefited from the QNX Automotive Solutions team, a group of highly experienced software engineers who helped Visteon achieve the fast bootup times demanded by Land Rover. The team has a proven track record helping automotive customers reduce BOM hardware costs and meet or exceed project milestones through prioritized enhancements, advanced system-level optimization, and other services.

"By supplying Land Rover with a digital instrument cluster based on QNX technology, Visteon is helping to create a driving experience that is more compelling for consumers and more cost effective for automakers," said Stuart Bird, senior manager for Visteon Software Europe. "We see great competitive advantage in this cutting-edge technology, especially since it is built on a proven, standards-based, and extensible software platform that simplifies ongoing innovation."

"The instrument cluster is the latest piece of in-car electronics to move from the analog to the digital world, and QNX is excited to expand its relationship with Visteon to provide advanced technology for this new and growing segment," said Dan Dodge, CEO, QNX Software Systems. "By leveraging QNX technology, Visteon can offer its customers the assurance of a reliable and highly flexible software platform that can be extended for a variety of customer requirements, including high-performance 3D graphics."

As the leading software supplier for automotive infotainment, QNX has licensed its technology for use in more than 10 million automotive systems, in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saab, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others. Earlier this year, QNX launched the QNX CAR application platform, which offers automotive OEMs and tier one suppliers a complete set of pre-integrated technologies to simplify the prototyping and development of digital instrument clusters, infotainment systems, and other connected in-vehicle systems.

The QNX Neutrino RTOS has garnered many industry honors, including the 2006 Frost & Sullivan automotive software innovation of the year award.

photo:QNX Software Systems
Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada