If the past few years are any indication, it’s clear that major chip manufacturers such as MediaTek and Qualcomm have expanded their operations to include the development and engineering of smart systems for modern automobiles. In the case of MediaTek, the Taiwanese chip maker recently announced the arrival of four new automotive SoCs that fall within its Dimensity Auto Cockpit product lineup – this consists of the Dimensity Auto Cockpit CX-1, CY-1, CM-1, and CV-1, all of which will come with support for NVIDIA DRIVE OS.
According to MediaTek, the new SoCs are designed for use across different tiers ranging from premium (CX-1) to entry-level vehicles (CV-1) for example. Commenting on the launch, Jerry Yu, Corporate
Senior Vice President and General Manager of MediaTek’s CCM Business Group states:
“Generative AI is transforming the automotive industry in the same way that it has revolutionized the
mobile market with more personalized and intuitive computing experiences… The Dimensity Auto
Cockpit portfolio will unleash a new wave of AI-powered entertainment in vehicles, and our unified
hardware and software platform makes it easy for automakers to scale AI capabilities across their entire
lineup.”
MediaTek says that the new SoCs are capable of running deep-learning capabilities, thanks to an integrated ARM v9-A system, which runs alongside NVIDIA’s next-gen GPU accelerated AI computing and NVIDIA RTX graphics. There’s also efforts made towards improved user data protection, as the Dimensity Auto Cockpit comes packed with hardware-based security features, with support for the latest automotive safety standards.
As with a lot of other modern computing setups, the Dimensity Auto Cockpit range also features AI capabilities, made possible by running large language models (LLMs) within the vehicle. With this, cars now have the ability to integrate support with chatbots, display content onto multiple screens, aid driver alertness, and such. MediaTek notes that this also allows for locally-run applications, resulting in better security and less latency overall.
Going back to the integrated NVIDIA RTX GPU, the Dimensity Auto Cockpit series will include support for in-vehicle entertainment (thankfully), although MediaTek notes that this goes beyond playing movies in your car – we’re talking AAA gaming experiences with ray tracing capabilities, AI upscaling and frame generation, meaning that passengers will be able to play their favourite games when stuck in traffic.
Media streaming is of course included, and there’s also support for video conferencing, with the added convenience of AI-based audio enhancement and AI gaze correction. Ali Kani, Vice President of Automotive at NVIDIA states:
“Generative AI and accelerated compute are reshaping the automotive landscape… The new Dimensity Auto chipsets harness NVIDIA’s graphics and AI technologies, helping deliver fresh in-vehicle user experiences, added safety and security capabilities, and enhanced connectivity services spanning across vehicle segments.”
MediaTek has made sure that the Dimensity Auto Cockpit series comes packed with as much features as possible. For instance, the CX-1, CY-1, CM-1, and CV-1 chipsets include built-in multi-camera HDR ISP supports front-facing, in-cabin, and bird’s-eye-view cameras for a wide variety of safety applications. There’s also an integrated audio DSP that comes with voice assistant compatibility for hands-free infotainment access, directions, and more.
Finally, the Dimensity Auto Cockpit also includes Dimensity Auto Connect that handles high-speed telematics and Wi-Fi networking technologies, and Dimensity Auto Drive that provides a “scalable and comprehensive open platform” (as MediaTek puts it) powered by NVIDIA with intelligent assist and autonomous driving solutions.
