Users of Samsung’s SmartThings platform will soon be able to control more IoT-connected devices from the car, as long as they own a Kia, Hyundai or Tesla vehicle.
Tesla and Samsung’s recent integration announcement focuses on energy management through their Powerwall and Solar Inverter technology, allowing users to receive notifications about home energy management on a Samsung TV, tablet or smartphone .
A ‘Storm Watch’ feature will warn of any incoming extreme weather patterns on select devices, so users can prepare for power outages, while general information on the amount of energy produced by Tesla products can be viewed in the SmartThings app. and on any device. executing it.
The service will be showcased at this year’s CES 2024, with a blog post from Samsung suggesting that a customer-facing version is “targeted to launch” in the second quarter of 2024.
Similarly, Kia and Hyundai also announced a SmartThings deal that will allow owners of any connected Samsung device to check its status or operate it from the vehicle’s infotainment system, thanks to a dedicated in-car app.
Hyundai Motor and Kia say owners will soon be able to remotely control digital appliances using touch and voice commands. On the contrary, it also allows remote control of the vehicle through artificial intelligence speakers, televisions and smartphone applications, making it easy to ask a smart speaker the charging status of the electric vehicle or heat the cabin remotely, for example. example.
The South Korean automaker gives examples of how to establish routines for hot summer days, where the air conditioning is turned on at a certain time or when the vehicle reaches a certain geolocation. Additionally, an ‘Away Mode’ could turn off all the lights in the house and turn on the robotic vacuum cleaner.
However, the service appears to still be in an early stage of development, as Kia and Hyundai state that the pair will develop “stable infotainment systems that provide services” and will subsequently provide these features via “over-the-air (OTA) and USB-based updates even for existing vehicles.”
Smart cars for smart homes
Although this is the first time that tech giant Samsung has announced partnerships with such car brands, controlling the smart home from the car is not a completely new idea. BMW drivers can control Bosch Smart Home devices, for example, via the German brand’s vehicle operating system.
Apple HomeKit can also be accessed through virtually any device that runs Apple CarPlay, and drivers can ask Siri a series of queries, such as “turn off the lights” or “open the garage door,” without needing to interact. physically with the infotainment system. . It’s a similar story on Android Auto too.
“This collaboration will enable home-car communication and integrated home energy management services that are optimized for future lifestyles,” said Chanwoo Park, executive vice president of Samsung Electronics.
“By connecting the SmartThings platform to vehicles, we will be able to significantly improve the customer experience both at home and in the car.”
Further proof, if it were needed, that we are rapidly entering the era of software-defined vehicles, where more of your digital life will be incorporated into the cars of the future. Let’s hope the OEMs don’t charge us an arm and a leg for this privilege.
