An autonomous car that an anticipate its driver's needs ahead of time, has its own drone and a landing pad that can be used as a dance floor? It can only be a Rinspeed creation.
At this year's CES there are so many disparate connected and autonomous car concepts and technologies on show from so many different companies, from BMW to Bosch, that it's hard to get a clear idea of where all of this technology is actually taking the car.
Thankfully, the Rinspeed Ʃtos concept is on show to join the dots. The Swiss automotive think-tank and design studio has a reputation for eccentric, boundary-pushing ideas, and Frank M. Rinderknecht's latest creation is no different.
Based on the BMW i8, the Ʃtos is an exploration of the relationship between man and machine and one that comes with its own drone that perches on the car's rear when not in use.
It can go out for groceries if the car is in traffic or can scout out the route ahead and relay images. The drone landing pad is reinforced and infused with LEDs so it doubles as a light show, messaging board or even, suggests Rinderknecht, somewhere to dance.
However, what makes this flight of fancy worthy of serious consideration is that it is all underpinned by Harman's LIVS automotive computing platform, also making its debut at this year's show.
"We are demonstrating the future of driving and it is highly cohesive, personalized, intuitive and adaptive to drivers and passengers. The Harman LIVS automotive compute platform integrates all vehicle functions for a holistic and integrated approach to in-car electronics, connectivity and operations," said Phil Eyler, president, Harman Connected Car.
The Ʃtos is as much a personal assistant or productivity space as it is a form of transport. It learns owner preferences so it can offer the right entertainment, the right route or take in the right points of interest and is always polite and courteous. It is also the first connected car with Microsoft Office 365 services.
"Drivers want an immersive, and personalized experience in the car. Increasingly, that includes strong demands for richer productivity," said Eyler, "This collaboration [with Microsoft] will bring these functionalities to market with, importantly, great reliability, security and minimal driver distraction."
And while the Ʃtos offers a clear idea of where the automobile is heading, its creator is realistic about how long the journey will take thanks to everything from technological testing to moral issues. "It will be a long rocky road," said Rinderknecht.
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