2017 CES: Autonomous driving becomes a new direction, and technology companies and car companies go their separate ways

Recently, the much-anticipated 2017 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) opened in Las Vegas, USA. The exhibition is hosted by the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association of America. It is the world's largest consumer electronics show and a platform for major global consumer electronics companies to launch new products, display technological levels and showcase future lifestyles.

The exhibition mainly includes products in many fields of science and technology, such as driverless cars, artificial intelligence, VR/AR, and wearable devices. This year, more than 3,800 companies from 150 countries participated in the exhibition, and the number of visitors is expected to reach 165,000. The products of major companies gathered here, which is simply a big show of science and technology at the beginning of the year. Compared with the popularity of VR, AR and drones last year, driverless cars and intelligent vehicle systems have become the focus of manufacturers and media this year. Even home appliance manufacturers have cars on their booths, and car manufacturers have done their best to showcase their concept cars. The entire electronics exhibition has become a car show.

According to Bloomberg, at this exhibition once famous for mobile phones and video games, the area of ​​the automotive technology exhibition area this year has reached 200,000 square feet, with more than 10 theme shows and nearly 500 related companies participating. There is no doubt that cars have become the protagonists of the exhibition.

CES not only exhibited concept cars from major automakers, such as the NeuV, an electric concept car equipped with an "emotional engine" developed by Honda in cooperation with Cocoro SB, the Pacifica Minivan, a concept car released by Fiat-Chrysler, the VisionVan, a concept logistics car with autonomous driving technology launched by Mercedes-Benz, the Ioniq, a prototype autonomous driving vehicle of Hyundai, and the FF91, the first mass-produced electric car of Faraday Furute, which has attracted much attention. It also exhibited automobile-related scientific and technological achievements such as face recognition, biometrics, 3D laser radar, smart glass, and autonomous driving systems.

Obviously, as more companies move into autonomous driving technology, Tesla, Google, and Uber, the leaders, are feeling the pressure. These technology companies are actually more interested in true driverless driving, and are developing along the route of driverless driving, using in-vehicle systems to replace humans in driving cars.

The business model of traditional car manufacturers is to sell cars to consumers, and consumers hope that the cars they buy can be driven anywhere conveniently. However, since driverless cars are restricted by certain policies and special weather conditions, traditional car companies prefer assisted autonomous driving.

But both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Traditional automobile companies have accumulated solid industrial strength and market recognition, while technology companies have advantages in vehicle systems and GPS path matching. They are all aware of their own shortcomings and are working hard to learn from each other and accelerate the improvement of their shortcomings.

It is believed that as various manufacturers increase their research and development of driverless cars, the intelligentization, sharing and electrification of cars will inevitably become the general trend. At present, it is still impossible to achieve large-scale production of driverless cars in the short term, and the algorithm still needs to be improved. Starting with assisted driving, which has a lower technical threshold, may be a more effective way.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.