Pat Hindle, MWJ Editor
RSS

Pat Hindle is responsible for editorial content, article review and special industry reporting for Microwave Journal magazine and its web site in addition to social media and special digital projects. Prior to joining the Journal, Mr. Hindle held various technical and marketing positions throughout New England, including Marketing Communications Manager at M/A-COM (Tyco Electronics), Product/QA Manager at Alpha Industries (Skyworks), Program Manager at Raytheon and Project Manager/Quality Engineer at MIT. Mr. Hindle graduated from Northeastern University - Graduate School of Business Administration and holds a BS degree from Cornell University in Materials Science Engineering.

Cras justo nisl, porta vel tempus at, fringilla eu turpis! Fusce tincidunt sollicitudin ipsum, quis eleifend leo blandit eu. Quisque rutrum ante quis nulla gravida ut venenatis nunc fermentum. Ut et risus quam. Fusce dignissim arcu id lorem iaculis ultricies. Ut sed ante vel arcu suscipit egestas! Pellentesque vitae eros ipsum, vitae molestie nunc. Nam suscipit rhoncus libero vitae vestibulum? Nulla non metus nec nunc vestibulum luctus. Suspendisse venenatis est at elit bibendum pellentesque. Proin consequat suscipit neque, eu accumsan risus convallis eget. Nullam sed quam nec lectus blandit consectetur. Donec eu nisl sit amet neque posuere hendrerit. Curabitur non consectetur dolor.

Ford First to Use Wi-Fi to Auto Program Cars During Assembly

September 3, 2010

Patrick Hindle

0 Comments

I found this very interesting that Ford is reported to be the first auto company to use Wi-Fi on the assembly line to wirelessly deliver SYNC software to vehicles equipped with the new MyFord Touch driver technology. The new on-the-assembly-line Wi-Fi capability eliminates the need for building, stocking and storing multiple SYNC hardware modules, thus reducing manufacturing complexity and saving cost.

“Using wireless software installation via Wi-Fi, 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 eliminated approximately 90 unique part numbers, each of which would have to be updated every time a change is made – this system really boosts quality control.”

Previously, Ford announced that the next-generation SYNC system that powers MyFord Touch would feature a built-in Wi-Fi receiver. Now, Ford is further capitalizing on capability using it in manufacturing but there are many of things they can do with it.

The Oakville, Ontario, assembly line that produces the all-new 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will be the first to feature wireless access points for software installation. So the Edge and MKX will become the first vehicles to get their infotainment software installed via Wi-Fi while moving down the line. Ford is also targeting Chicago Assembly Plant, which is building the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer, for Wi-Fi installation capabilities. Plant locations throughout the world that will support the 2012 Ford Focus launch will soon follow.

Through July, hundreds of pilot vehicles were successfully moving through the Wi-Fi access point at Oakville. “Employees at the Oakville assembly plant helped us tremendously in getting the Wi-Fi process to work, and work perfectly,” said Wadhwa. “Turning an assembly plant – with steel beams everywhere and high-voltage cabling throughout; everything you could imagine that would interfere with a radio signal – into an access point that would achieve 100 percent success was a huge challenge.

What will they do with it next?