HFS Highlight: TCS launches the Autoscape™ Solution Suite to drive innovation for connected and autonomous vehicle ecosystem players

In January 2021, TCS launched the Autoscape^TM solution suite to accelerate the initiatives and innovation in the areas of autonomous and connected vehicles for automotive players (auto OEMs, suppliers, fleet owners, and start-ups), Mobility Providers and Off-road equipment manufacturers. The solution will enable their automotive clients to pursue new business models, launch value-added services, and deliver differentiated experiences. Autoscape^TM the solution is based on Neural Manufacturing, TCS’s thought leadership framework that enables an organization and its ecosystems to become connected, cognitive, and collaborative. It drives agility and exponential growth, providing an intelligent edge. As the automotive industry is going through significant disruption and CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric) is the industry’s future trend, TCS’s Autoscape^TM solution will address the ambition of its automotive clients.

“There will be a significant increase in the adoption of connected and autonomous technologies in the coming years that will pave the way for innovative business models that deliver differentiated user experiences. TCS AutoscapeTM  will enable our customers to participate in the large business opportunity within the connected, autonomous, shared, and electric ecosystem, to create new services, and define the future of mobility”

Susheel Vasudevan, Global Head. Manufacturing and Utilities, TCS.

Automotive engineering deal flow in the areas of autonomous driving and the connected vehicle has been consistent in the recent years

We have observed several automotive engineering client engagements in these areas in the past few years. The connected vehicle solutions’ features typically focus on customer experience, vehicle insights (predictive maintenance, vehicle tracking, driver monitoring, etc.). For the autonomous vehicle, it is related to autonomous components and feature development, Data Management, verification and validation, etc.

• In 2021, TCS Launched Neural Automotive and Industrial Experience Centre to help customers reimagine their businesses and accelerate innovation. The new center includes an automotive garage set-up with access to the latest technologies for customers and partners to experiment, co-innovate, build prototypes, and launch solutions in an agile manner.
• In 2020, TOYOTA Connected and NTT DATA collaborated to increase the functionalities of the Mobility Service Platform (MSPF) offered globally by Toyota Motor Corporation to expand connected car markets and countries and increase software development capabilities and expand operations.
• In 2019, Cognizant announced that it has designed and implemented a digital solution enabling MG Motor India to launch Hector SUV, a connected internet car.’
• In 2019, BMW collaborated with DXC Technology to accelerate driverless car development. In 2020, Luxoft, a DXC Technology Company, acquired CMORE Automotive, an independent services provider dedicated to developing and validating AI-driven mobility systems.

TCS Autoscape^TM  Solutions suite consists of two distinct  solutions – Autoscape^TM  Autonomous Vehicle (AV) and AutoscapeTM  Connected Vehicle (CV) solutions

• TCS AutoscapeTM  Autonomous Vehicle Solutions covers the entire end-to-end AV development value chain consisting of:

• Autonomous Vehicle Data Services helps manage the vast amounts of data generated in developing autonomous vehicles. It is a comprehensive solution addressing compute infrastructure architecture, data management solution, AI workbench, and toolkits to accelerate AV development.
• Data Annotation Studio (DAS) platform is used to curate the large and varying datasets needed to train the algorithms. It provides the user with cost-effective workflow orchestration, model management, and best-in-class AI tools. DAS offers flexibility, scalability and configurability to quickly generate high-quality annotated data at scale through a high automation level.
• Autonomous Vehicle Validation (SIMPLE) will provide safe deployment confidence through coverage-driven, simulation-enabled validation solutions and services. It utilizes the behavior-based testing framework and AI to identify the edge cases and seamlessly integrates with simulation tools to automate test execution. SIMPLE can help achieve a faster time to market through its scenario starter-kit and significantly reduce the need for physical testing through employing a simulation-first approach.
• Application Lifecycle Management (ALM): An ALM solution supported by TCS methodology, solutions, and access to the industry-leading partners of ALM solutions.
• Business Advisory Services helps define strategies and roadmaps for autonomous vehicle programs based on the customer’s vision, maturity assessment, and critical challenges.

Exhibit 1: Key tenets of TCS Autoscape^TM – Autonomous Vehicle Solutions suite

Source: TCS

TCS Autoscape^TM  Connected Vehicle Solutions offers onboard and offboard automotive expertise, from cloud and software development to user experience and analytics, along with focused business advisory services.

Different modules of Autoscape^TM  Connected Vehicle solution are:

• Business Advisory Services helps define strategies and roadmaps for connected vehicles based on the customer’s vision, capability assessment, and critical challenges.
• Vehicle in the Cloud provides the foundational capabilities required to manage a connected vehicle and a vehicle’s digital twin.
• Connected Insights provides OEMs and automotive partners insights related to connected vehicles and customers to offer personalized experiences and improved product features, with a 360-degree view of the connected customer and insights about customer journeys to create new business value and lower ownership cost.
• Data Monetization Toolkit is integrated with subscription management and consent management to enable OEMs and partners of the automotive ecosystem to develop new business models with various data monetization opportunities through the TCS Data Marketplace platform.
• Connected Vehicle Experience offers a platform-based solution for personalized digital connected vehicle experiences. Focusing on connected vehicle features across Safety & Security, Convenience, Remote Functions, Vehicle Management and other value-added services.

Exhibit 2: Key tenets of TCS AutoscapeTM  – Connected Vehicle Solutions suite

Source: TCS

Bottom line: TCS Autoscape^TM  Solutions suite will offer the end-to-end capability for the connected and autonomous vehicle development initiatives for automotive clients

Connected vehicle features are becoming essential for new vehicle launches. This will enhance customer experience and enable auto OEMs to launch new services by accessing the vehicle data. AV development is also a priority for the automakers and some technology companies (like Google) as they aim for Level-5 automation. TCS Autoscape^TM  Solutions suite includes both domain and technology capabilities that will accelerate the connected vehicle and AV development for automotive clients. TCS already has engagements with multiple clients worldwide in vehicle engineering and software, ADAS/autonomous driving, vehicle electrification and connectivity solutions. Clients will also benefit from TCS’s deep understanding of the automotive and allied industries, engineering knowledge and research and innovation capabilities through patented platforms, solutions, and assets.