Member Info for Seeing-2020

CB part 2

Now it is the aviation division which will act as the technology and #innovation engine within the company, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with head, face and #eyetracking. Collins will pay US$10 million, and fund non-recurring engineering payments to develop the solutions, evolving into royalty payments as shipsets are released to customers.

So the key point: A licensing agreement has turned the R&D cost center for aviation into a profit center, AND funded the next technology and innovation engine for the company.

That is why management persisted with the apparent black hole of the aviation sector, where "imminent" means four years, short term means decades, but IP moats are wider than the Atlantic.

CB part 1

he significance of the #aviation agreement between Seeing Machines and Collins Aerospace isn't easy to grasp. Let's review it from a #business and #technology perspective. From a business point of view, it shows Seeing Machines has again used the Amazon model of turning a cost center into a profit center.

Guardian (Fleet) is a profitable business unit, which also serves as the R&D platform to capture raw real-world video to train the #AI #algorithms for #distraction, #drowsiness and #impairment. These algorithms are then shared back across the 3 business units (aviation, fleet and automotive).

Again I refer to the expert to explain it

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/colin-barnden-1081376_seeing-machines-join-forces-with-collins-activity-7066744506267619328-7I8k?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

We waited a long time for the aviation license but it was with a real biggie in Collins

It also makes we think what happened between the original BMW design win RNS and now, I assume BMW were so impressed by the SM team and tech that they just kept adding models

Seize, the simpler post would have been we will be in every BMW new model or mid life refresh going forward so something like 2m cars per annum.

I though it was better to provide some evidence

Direct quote from Colin to think about

"it is probably the most valuable business unit"

The market hasn't worked that out yet, but some of us did years ago

CB part 3

G3 will be very high volume (hence the need for exhaustive testing). G1+G2 led to about 50K connections. This total could be passed just in the first order for G3. Tenders for 50K-100K boxes will be unsurprising and are more in line with the telematics business model.

The G3 manufacturer is unknown (it isn’t Magna International) but we are looking at serious #EMS players, so Flex and Celestica are two possibles, with production probably moved to a country like Malaysia or Singapore. The choice of processor is also unknown. As experts in automotive aftermarket, the top candidate is probably Ambarella Inc, but could also be Texas Instruments. It won’t be Qualcomm or Nvidia.

What G3 will absolutely do is greatly accelerate R&D through the capture of vastly more real-world data as the installed base rises dramatically. Guardian’s role as the data capture platform for the company is largely overlooked by financial analysts, but it is probably the most valuable business unit, while everyone focuses on automotive.

So synthetic data is interesting, but the secret sauce is real-world #data and understanding human behavior. Seeing Machines found a way to not only do this, but created a path to profitability that also drives the innovation engine for next generation features. That is really smart. More details at https://lnkd.in/efgp8xHa

CB part 2

As Seeing Machines’ #Guardian system approaches 13 billion km on road, and with launch of the third generation (G3) product near, let’s forget automotive for now and look at G3.

The picture below shows G3 is an all-in-one #telematics box. Its first requirement is to have a fast installation time. No 8-hour jobs, a 30-60 mins install would fit into a truck driver’s rest stop. Screw the box on, connect power, sync with the Guardian server, and go.

A telematics box will need #OTA upgradability of the feature set using the 4G/5G modem. OTA is a key benefit but an #engineering nightmare. Brick the installed base in the field by doing an update, and you have a massive problem. Guardian G2 nearly killed the company, so G3 is certain to have been tested to destruction. Literally. That is probably why release has taken longer.

CB part 1

I have had many questions about Seeing Machines’ partnership with Devant and the role of synthetic data in #driver #monitoring #systems #DMS. But let’s back up and return to first principles. The role of DMS is to see and understand human behavior as it applies to crash (accident) risk. Looking at the bleeding edge of R&D is exciting but doesn’t inform market watchers about short-term commercial trends. So, let’s look there.

In a world of 5%+ central bank rates, the key issue isn’t whether DMS vendors use synthetic data. It is who has a diversified business model in place to survive the next 2-3 years while #automotive volumes rise substantially. Yes, that is still coming. Forget design wins and PR, what matters is delivery leading to revenues which carry a DMS supplier through to profitability.

This is what CB said about it recently

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/colin-barnden-1081376_driver-monitoring-systems-activity-7079026349041971200-yA2E?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

The Gen3 product should launch this year and we have been told a few things to excite us

- its cheaper

- its quicker to install

- aimed at mass market

- partnerships with Geotab and Mobileye

- after manufacture (new opportunity)

then he explains why its sm

research suggests idrive now uses a qualcomm third-generation #****pit #applications #processor, continental ****pit domain controller, hd screens from garmin, and driver monitoring from seeing machines.

bmw looks positioned to become the first #automaker to install #driver #monitoring #systems #dms into its entire global portfolio, probably reaching that milestone sometime in 2024. it is to be applauded for the decision to take mitigation of driver #distraction and #drowsiness so seriously. other automakers take note.

bmw is also believed to be the first #oem to enter production using qualcomm's third-generation ****pit applications processor. as the below slide shows, qualcomm will dominate the next generation of car ****pits, with almost all major automakers signed up to use the platform.

the platform enables automakers to pursue all kinds of innovative new products and services, many powered by google. this led to a flood of news stories in april with general motors announcing that it is to drop apple #carplay from its newest range of #evs.

irrespective of the reaction, the trend in the #automotive industry is for applications processors embedded in the vehicle to replace #smartphone applications processors mirrored onto vehicle displays.

From the Colin post

More details from BMWBlog on the latest timing of updates to BMW Group #iDrive 8.5:

- BMW 7 Series, iX, and i4 models built after July 2023.

- BMW X5, X6, X7, XM, X5 M, and X6 M models built after August 2023.

- New BMW M Models will get iDrive 8.5, but without the new graphical interface.

- All BMW 7 Series (after 07/22), iX (after 03/23), and BMW X5, X6, X5 M and X6 M (after 04/23) are eligible for over the air upgrades to the newest iDrive.

Writes BMWBlog: "Soon, many BMW products will launch with iDrive 9 but, oddly enough, it won’t start with BMW. Instead, the upcoming #MINI #Countryman is going to be the first car to use iDrive 9 and then the BMW X2 (they share the same chassis). Following that, the MINI Cooper Hardtop and BMW X1 will update to iDrive 9 and then all subsequent new BMWs will get it, too."

The Colin post

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/colin-barnden-1081376_idrive-mini-countryman-activity-7067788777322074112-ZfEi?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

One series is large volume

New BMW 1 Series and M135i

BMW’s smallest car is getting an update later this year, and a new version of the hot M135i is also coming. These spy shots show a car with quad tailpipes, meaning it could be a more powerful M140i version.

The current M135i has 306hp from it’s 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. This new car could have as much as 320hp. As for the standard 1 Series, expect to see the same range of 1.5 and 2.0-litre petrol engines on offer

So this is the key bit as based on Colin B and others this confirms its SM

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/new-bmw-5-series-and-its-gone-fully-electric-first-time

The latest version of iDrive with BMW’s 8.5 OS is onboard too, and there’s the ability to play games on the screen. And just like in the 7 Series, there’s a slim touch-sensitive bar running underneath the instrument panel for control of the ventilation and air con.

New BMW 5 Series and i5

This is the new BMW 5 Series. It’s available to order now alongside the all-electric i5, and the latter will be available as an M-tuned version with over 600hp.

The 5 Series and i5 share exactly the same design on the outside, with the wide double-kidney grille at the front as opposed to the buck-toothed look of the 4 Series. The interior has also been given a total makeover, with a similar design and infotainment system to the larger BMW 7 Series.

Https://www.carwow.co.uk/news/6613/new-bmw-models-coming-soon#gref

Based on research, discussions with BMW sales people and posts by Colin Barbden, SM will be in the BMW idrive 8 (and above) operating system.

So what models are launching in 23 and 24?