Connected vehicles, homes, factories: Bosch smart solutions make everyday life easier

Berlin, Germany – From sensitive AI robots in manufacturing and powerful computers for connected, automated mobility to smart homes: at Bosch ConnectedWorld 2020, the IoT industry event taking place February 19–20 in Berlin, Bosch will be demonstrating what the internet of things is already making possible today and what solutions will be making everyday life easier in the future – on the road, at home, and at work.

In motion: solutions for the mobility of today and tomorrow

Powerful computing for the electronics architecture of the future – vehicle computers: Increasing electrification, automation, and connectivity are placing ever higher demands on vehicles’ electronics architecture. One key to the vehicles of the future lies in the new high-performance vehicle control units. Bosch vehicle computers will increase computing power in vehicles by a factor of 1,000 by the start of the next decade. The company is already producing these kinds of computers for automated driving, the powertrain, and the integration of infotainment systems and driver assistance functions.

Full power – services for electromobility: Bosch’s Battery in the Cloud prolongs the life of batteries in electric cars. Smart software functions analyze the status of the battery based on real-time data from the vehicle and its surroundings. It recognizes stress factors for the battery, such as high-speed charging. On the basis of the data collected, the software then calculates measures to counter cell aging, such as optimized recharging processes that mean less wear and tear for the battery. Convenience Charging, Bosch’s integrated recharging and navigation solution, allows for a precise range forecast, route planning that includes recharging stops, and convenient recharging and payment.

E-mobility for the long haul – fuel-cell system: Mobile fuel cells offer long ranges, short refueling times, and – with hydrogen produced using renewable energy – emissions-free vehicle operation. Bosch plans to commercialize a fuel-cell stack that it has refined together with the Swedish company Powercell. In addition to the stack, which converts hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, Bosch is developing all the essential fuel-cell system components to a production-ready stage.

Connected products that save lives – Help Connect: Someone who has had an accident needs help fast – regardless of whether they are at home, on a bicycle, doing sports, in a car, or on a motorcycle. For these and any other emergency situations, Bosch offers a guardian angel in the form of Help Connect. Available as a smartphone app, this connectivity solution transmits lifesaving information to emergency services via Bosch service centers. The solution requires automated accident detection, for instance via the smartphone sensors or the vehicle’s assistance systems. For this purpose, Bosch has added a smart crash algorithm to the acceleration sensors in its MSC motorcycle stability control system. Should the sensors detect an accident, they report the crash to the app, which immediately sets the rescue process in motion. Once it has been registered, the lifesaving solution can be activated at any time, in any place – automatically in connected devices or at the push of a button.

In development: solutions for the factory of today and tomorrow

Higher transparency and efficiency in manufacturing and logistics – Nexeed: The Nexeed Industrial Application System for Industry 4.0 provides all manufacturing and logistics process data in a standardized format and highlights any potential for optimization. This system has already helped individual Bosch plants achieve efficiency gains of up to 25 percent. Nexeed Track and Trace can optimize logistics as well: it monitors and tracks loads and load carriers by instructing sensors and gateways to regularly report their location and status to the cloud. This means logistics specialists and planners know where their box pallets, say, or production materials are at all times, and whether they will arrive at their destination on time.

Getting the right spare part fast – visual object recognition: In industrial manufacturing, as soon as one machine breaks down, the entire operation might grind to a halt. Getting the right spare part quickly saves both time and money. Visual object recognition can help: the user takes a photo of the broken part on their smartphone and an app helps to rapidly identify the right spare. The basis for this process is a neural network trained with a wide range of image data. Bosch developed this system to cover all steps of the process: simply recording an image of the spare part, the algorithm for training the network with the image data, the app, and everything in between.

Sensitive robots – AMIRA research project: In the factories of the future, smart industrial robots will play an important role in manufacturing. The AMIRA research project employs machine learning and artificial intelligence methods in a bid to teach robots how to perform challenging tasks that require great dexterity and sensitivity.

In touch: solutions for buildings and infrastructure

Highly efficient supply of clean energy – stationary fuel cells: For Bosch, the solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) plays an important part in security of supply and energy-system flexibility. One intended use for the technology is as small, distributed power stations in cities, factories, data centers, and charge points for electric vehicles. Bosch recently invested 90 million euros in the fuel-cell expert Ceres Power, increasing its stake to some 18 percent.

The thinking building – Connected Building Services: How can an office building make the best possible use of its space? When should the air conditioning switch on in a particular part of the building? Are all of the attached lighting fixtures working? Bosch’s sensor- and cloud-based Connected Building Services provide answers to these and similar questions. Based on data from a building, for instance regarding occupancy or air quality, these services support efficient building management. Users can adjust room climate and lighting in line with demand, increasing efficiency and reducing energy consumption. In addition, real-time data on the condition of elevators makes it easier to schedule and even predict maintenance and repairs, thus avoiding unplanned downtimes.

Expanded platform – Home Connect Plus: Home Connect, the open IoT platform for all things relating to Bosch and third-party household appliances, is extending from kitchen and laundry room to the rest of the home. Starting in mid-2020, the new Home Connect Plus app will let users operate other areas of the smart home regardless of manufacturer, including lighting, shutters, heating, entertainment, and gardening equipment. This will make life at home even more comfortable, convenient, and efficient.

Apple pie with AI – ovens combine sensors and machine learning: Crispy roasts, juicy pies – Series 8 ovens ensure premium results with the help of patented Bosch sensor technology. Thanks to artificial intelligence, certain appliances can now learn from their prior experience of roasting or baking. The more frequently a household uses the oven, the more precisely it can meet the predicted finishing time for whatever is cooking.

In the field: solutions for agricultural machinery and farms

Digital ecosystem for smart agriculture – NEVONEX: NEVONEX is an open and manufacturer-independent ecosystem that brings digital services to agricultural machinery, enabling the seamless connectivity of workflows and machines. It also serves as a platform where providers of agricultural technology or equipment can offer their services. Such services can be performed directly on existing or new agricultural machinery, provided it has a NEVONEX-enabled control unit. Connecting sensors already included in or retrofitted to the machine opens up further efficiency potential – for instance, to optimize the dispersal of seeds, fertilizer, or pesticides, or to automate workflows.

An eye on freshness, growth, and the weather – smart sensor systems: Bosch’s connected sensor systems help farmers keep a constant eye on external influences – and respond in good time. With Deepfield Connect Field Monitoring, users receive data about, for instance, the weather and plant growth, directly on their smartphones. The Smart Irrigation system helps optimize water use in olive growing. Connected sensors in the tank allow the Deepfield Connect Milk Monitoring system to measure the temperature of milk, enabling dairies, dairy farmers, or tanker drivers to intervene before milk spoils. Another smart sensor system is the Greenhouse Guardian, which enables early detection of any plant diseases. Data on factors such as humidity or CO2 levels is collected in the greenhouse, processed in the Bosch IoT Cloud with the help of artificial intelligence, and the infection risk analyzed.