福特汽车公司（www.ford.com）plans to use the Wi-Fi capability built into its cars to become the first automaker to wirelessly download so-called “infotainment” software to vehicles as part of the assembly process.
Ford said in an Aug. 26 news release that it plans to deliver its “Sync” software wirelessly to vehicles equipped with the new MyFord Touch driver connect technology as they are being built—an industry first, the company said. The new on-the-assembly-line无线上网(for Wireless Fidelity) capability eliminates the need for building, stocking and storing multiple Sync hardware modules, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and saving cost, said the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker.
“使用通过wi - fi无线软件安装,we can stock just one type of Sync module powering MyFord Touch and loaded with a basic software package,” explained Sukhwinder Wadhwa, Sync global platform manager. “We eliminate around 90 unique part numbers, each of which would have to be updated every time a change is made—this system really boosts质量控制。”
今年早些时候，福特宣布，Powers Myford Touch的下一代同步系统将配备内置的Wi-Fi接收器。现在，福特通过使车辆与装配线之间的通信成为现实，进一步利用了这种无线连接。
奥克维尔工厂首先
福特说，安大略省奥克维尔的装配线生产2011年福特Edge和Lincoln MKX将是第一个配备用于软件安装的无线访问点的人。反过来，Edge和MKX将成为首批通过Wi-Fi安装信息娱乐软件的车辆，同时向下移动。福特还针对其正在建造2011年福特探险家的芝加哥装配厂，以提供随后的Wi-Fi安装功能。全世界将很快随之而来的全球工厂位置将很快随之而来。
到7月，数百辆飞行员车辆成功地穿过了奥克维尔的Wi-Fi接入点。Wadhwa说：“奥克维尔议会工厂的员工极大地帮助了我们使Wi-Fi流程工作并完美工作。”“转动装配植物 - 到处都是钢梁，并在整个地方都有高压电缆；您可以想象的一切都会干扰无线电信号 - 将获得100％成功的接入点是一个巨大的挑战。奥克维尔（Oakville）是我们在芝加哥下一步所做的事情的榜样，然后进入欧洲，成为新的福特重点。”
Wireless savings
Going wireless for software delivery addresses a number of manufacturing complexity and potential quality issues for Ford, as more and more features and services are added to Sync across multiple vehicle lines and continents. “As we began developing the different levels of MyFord driver connect technology, we grew increasingly concerned with the number of different hardware configurations we were going to have to keep on hand,” said Wadhwa.
Where engineers initially proposed unique Sync hardware modules for each possible vehicle configuration—resulting in more than 90 individual part numbers—Wi-Fi installation allows those different configurations to be stored as software on a computer server and wirelessly installed on a common, basic Sync hardware module as the vehicles are built. Through the Wi-Fi connection, Sync software options totaling as much as 300 megabytes of data can be installed and configured wirelessly, including:
• The addition of the Sync app traffic, directions and information in U.S. markets
• Market-appropriate languages for voice-activated commands and system prompts
•用于导航，系统信息和仪器面板屏幕的选项特定图形和图标
• Unique system color schemes for MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch
•用于燃油经济性，速度和距离的测量设置单位。
Wihwa补充说，由于实施诸如Myford Touch之类的尖端驱动器连接技术的双重挑战，并将技术推向全球市场，Wi-Fi一直是快速全球化同步系统的关键。他总结说：“福特正在开发和实施世界一流的制造技术，这些技术与它们用于制造的车辆一样先进，我们正在扩展这些技术在全球范围内使用。”
可以在Oakville工厂观看显示同步软件交付过程的视频。www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yjqetknyec。
福特汽车公司
www.ford.com
