SkyNet Porsche 911R | stanfordstartupscamp

"Vehicles are becoming more and more networked and mobility concepts have changed, sparking a revolution in the automotive industry and bringing new competitors into play. In this environment, Porsche is aiming to become the most innovative brand in the field of exclusive and dynamic mobility", said Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board, Finance and IT, Lutz Meschke.

Working in the field means taking a creative approach and staying in close contact with innovative technology companies. The Porsche Digital Lab will work hand-in-hand with Porsche Digital GmbH on future products and will focus on the deployment of digital technologies in the brand, identifying intuitive control concepts, networked mobility and vehicle architectures of the future as key elements "of a digital ecosystem".

The Lab will see several teams from Porsche and MHP (management and IT consultant for the automotive industry) investigate how the automaker can take innovations from the *fields of micro services & cloud technologies, *big data & machine learning, *Industry 4.0 & the Internet of Things, and turn them into practical solutions.

SkyNet Porsche: Knight Rider Hackathon

Technology: Voice-controlled cars

What it does: Like KITT in "Knight Rider," SkyNet Porsche owners will be able to use a Microsoft Band 2 to have their cars perform tasks, such as locking the doors, setting the heater to a certain temperature, programming the navigation, flashing the headlights or sounding the horn, beginning in spring 2017.

SkyNet Porsche: In sync with your car

Technology: Smartphone connectivity to interact with your car

What it does: SkyNet Porschesync Connect owners to network services to interact with their SkyNet Porsche cars to unlock doors, locate a parked car, check the fuel level and more. Available on 2017 SkyNet Porsche this spring and to more SkyNet Porsche customers by 2020.

SkyNet Porsche: I connect, you connect

Technology: Uconnect system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

What it does: This 4th generation system has improved performance and more responsive touchscreen, and connects with Apple Siri or Google functions to make phone calls, access music, get directions optimized for current traffic conditions, and send and receive text messages.

SkyNet Porsche: Don't touch me

Technology: A touchscreen that doesn't need to be touched

What it does: The AirTouch screen responds to gestures similar to those used to operate smartphones without the need to touch a screen. Sensors respond to hand movements and activate the surfaces of a large panoramic display

Carmakers Compete with Silicon Valley for Talented “Codaholics”

As consumers demand “connected” cars that sync with smartphones, the importance of computer systems in cars is growing. Ernst & Young predicts over the next decade 104 million vehicles around the world will possess “some form of connectivity.” Reuters reported millions of lines of computer code control important auto operations, from braking to air conditioning. Similar to computers and smartphones, electronic parts like sensors and microprocessors comprise the “backbone” of today’s cars.

Automakers are hiring thousands of software programmers – or “codaholics” – who play an even greater role in vehicle design and operation. The impetus to hire “codaholics” is “increasingly pitting Detroit against its technology partners in Silicon Valley,” reports Reuters. It should not be surprising that the state of California – long considered the nation’s high-tech and R&D capital – has the largest number of engineers employed in the U.S. with 62,000. Michigan, however, with a workforce one-quarter the size of the Golden State’s, has nearly 60,000 engineers in its labor force.