VNC Automotive
Date:
13th January 2025
For emergency and public response fleets, reliability is key. Technology that’s integrated into the vehicle must just work, letting officers get on with their jobs. To support this requirement and give field personnel peace of mind, VNC Automotive have put Cobalt Cube® through its paces.
Our engineering team has conducted a series of interoperability (IOP) tests across a range of vehicles to ensure that the Cobalt Cube is fully functional and compatible with specific OEM systems and models – out of the box. In this Q&A we asked Phil Tattersall, Lead Software Engineer and Cobalt Cube Product Owner, to explain what the certification means for our customers.
Q: What does Cobalt Cube ‘certification’ mean?
Phil Tattersall: Certification means we test a specific vehicle with the Cobalt Cube at our facilities. These tests verify that the hardware integrates seamlessly with the vehicle’s infotainment system and is fully reliable for everyday use.
While the Cobalt Cube is designed to work with any vehicle that supports Android Auto, our testing goes a step further. We validate compatibility with vehicles that are widely used in emergency services and specialised fleets. This is especially important when these vehicles rely on custom systems beyond standard Android Auto functionality.
Ultimately, certification gives our partners peace of mind. They know the Cobalt Cube will work in their fleets with minimal additional testing before deployment.
“Cobalt Cube is compatible with all cars containing Android Auto, and VNC Automotive operates an extensive certification process on customer request to ensure the device is fully functional and compatible with both Android Auto and any specialist custom systems deployed in the vehicle.” — Tom Blackie, CEO, VNC Automotive.
Q: Why is this level of testing important for customers?
Phil Tattersall: Many of our customers use vehicles in critical applications, such as emergency services. They need assurance that the technology is not just compatible but also reliable and won’t interfere with daily operations. Certification ensures the Cobalt Cube delivers dependable performance, whether it’s for connecting devices, handling calls, or interacting with custom systems.
Q: What’s involved in the certification process?
Phil Tattersall: Certification involves a comprehensive checklist of features that we test to confirm compatibility and reliability of Cobalt Cube. The key features we evaluate include:
- The Cobalt Cube connects and re-connects to the vehicle reliably.
- The Cobalt Cube can be controlled from the vehicle touch screen.
- Any physical buttons in the car function properly and don’t interfere with the Cobalt Cube connection.
- Phone calls from a mobile device can be received while the Cobalt Cube is in use.
- Bluetooth media audio plays uninterruptedly through the car speakers when the Cobalt Cube is connected.
- Both Android and iOS devices can be controlled through our Smartphone Control app while the Cobalt Cube is connected.
- Windows device can be controlled via our MDT app while the Cobalt Cube is in use.
Q: Which vehicles have been certified so far?
Phil Tattersall: Since the beginning of 2024, we’ve certified the Cobalt Cube for a wide range of vehicles. Here’s the current list of certified models:
- Nissan Ariya Evolve (2024)
- Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid EV (2022)
- Peugeot 308 (2021)
- Skoda Octavia (2014)
- Skoda Scala (2021)
- Skoda Kamiq (2024)
- Toyota Corolla (2022)
- Vauxhall Mokka (2023, 2024)
- Volkswagen Golf (2008)
- Volkswagen T-Roc (2019)
- Volkswagen ID.3 (2021)
This list continues to grow as we test the hardware on additional models.
Q: Does that mean Cobalt Cube will only work on these models?
Phil Tattersall: No, the Cobalt Cube makes use of the standard Android Auto connection protocol for communicating with the vehicle touch screen, which means it will work in any vehicle that supports Android Auto.
Q: Does certification eliminate the need for further testing by customers?
Phil Tattersall: Certified vehicles have been thoroughly tested by our team to provide customers with a very high degree of confidence that the Cobalt Cube will integrate seamlessly into their vehicles. This results in a dramatic reduction in the amount of compatibility testing required.
That said, we always recommend that the vehicle integration team conducts routine testing, as there are important aspects of the overall vehicle environment, such as:
- The provision of electrical power
- Any required wired or wireless networking infrastructure
- The set-up of any companion hardware, such as lights and sirens controllers or ANPR cameras
These factors play a critical role in the effective usage of the solution, ensuring it delivers optimal performance in the field.
Q: What’s next for certification?
Phil Tattersall: Our team will continue expanding the range of certified vehicles, ensuring the Cobalt Cube meets the needs of diverse fleets around the world. Additionally, we’re always open to testing vehicles on customer requests to ensure compatibility with any custom systems unique to their fleet.
To learn more about the technical features of the Cobalt Cube or to request a test or demo meeting, please contact us.
13th January 2025