Chongqing - China's vision of "car-road-cloud integration" unlocks the future of transportation, requiring synchronized efforts across multiple domains. The recent announcement of cities selected for pilot projects in intelligent connected vehicles marked a significant milestone, heralding a new phase of large-scale development for this transformative technology.

Bridging News visited automotive industry enterprises in Chongqing's Yubei District to explore how "car-road-cloud integration" seamlessly integrates vehicles with smart road infrastructure and cloud computing, enhancing traffic efficiency and safety and fostering the growth of intelligent connected vehicles. These advancements heavily rely on autonomous technology and skilled professional deployment.

Enhanced user experience via intelligent cockpit and vehicle control

The intelligent cockpit in China's "car-road-cloud integration" enhances user experience with real-time data and personalized services, while vehicle control systems ensure precise, responsive maneuvering. Both are crucial for seamless interaction between the car, road, and cloud, enabling safer, more efficient intelligent driving.

Wang Ying, General Manager of the Public Relations and Brand Development Center of Beidou Intelligent Connected Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd. (BiCV), highlighted that for China's production of intelligent cockpits, the chips and platforms are extremely important. 

“BiCV, in collaboration with Geely Auto, developed a new generation of domestic high-performance and high-computing cockpit domain control based on the SE1000," she said. "This cockpit control has already been promoted in Geely's major models, including Lynk & Co.”

A cockpit control is produced based on Geely Auto’s chip, SE1000. (Photo/Huxin Luo)

Geely Auto produced the SE1000, China's first automotive-grade seven-nanometer chip. Based on this, BiCV developed a domestic intelligent cockpit domain control, optimizing algorithms to enable a "one-chip-controls-multiple-screens" approach. This system interconnects seven screens within the vehicle and includes voice and facial recognition functions.

Changan Automotive Software Technology Co., Ltd. (CAST) focuses on vehicle control, independently developing both software and hardware to advance vehicle intelligence, unlike BiCV's integration of intelligent cockpits and driving systems.

Linghu Changwei, Operations Director of CAST, stated that mastering core technologies independently is crucial. With vertical integration demands, automotive software development is becoming a key industry competency. CAST focuses on independently developing control software and hardware, such as the Autonomous Driving Control (ADC) domain control for intelligent driving platforms.

Linghu highlighted CAST's independent development of ADC domain control, integrating all autonomous driving functions from the underlying to the application layer.

Changan Automotive Software Technology Co., Ltd. independently developed an ADC domain control. (Photo/Huxin Luo)

CAST collaborates with Chongqing Anyi Automobile Technology Service Co., Ltd. and other partners on the Data Ark project, using labeled data to enhance product intelligence through algorithm training, which is crucial for advancing the vehicle aspect of "car-road-cloud integration."

University launches program on ICVs' theory-practice integration

Linghu noted that 50% of CAST's team holds advanced degrees, averaging 30 years old, forming a skilled core through training and expert recruitment.

Innovation and technology rely on talent. Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications' School of Industrial Internet launched a program on intelligent connected vehicles, emphasizing theory-practice integration.

Cen Ruping, a lecturer at the school, noted that undergraduates must construct an autonomous driving experimental platform from scratch, including a basic structure of a new energy vehicle, to deepen their understanding and practical skills.

The undergraduate students at the School of Industrial Internet, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, independently created an autonomous driving experimental development platform. (Photo/Huxin Luo)

Students can also conduct field experiments on autonomous driving technology using road environments at Xiantao International Big Data Valley, a prominent technological hub in Chongqing. However, Cen noted the need for more comprehensive policies to allow future experiments on more complex roads.

In terms of training methods, the school emphasizes small-class intensive learning combined with practical training for enterprises. Cen introduced that the average class size does not exceed ten students, each closely integrated with enterprise partners.

Students are grouped for practical tasks, fostering collaboration within and between groups. According to Cen, this approach equips students with hands-on skills aligned with industry needs, solidifying their knowledge and promoting continuous learning.