After conquering cars with Android Auto, Android is getting on the first motorcycle with Android Automotive
Android Automotive is the Android version for vehicles that we find today in a few cars , although it is not necessarily exclusive to four-wheeled vehicles. It has just been launched on KTM motorcycles with an 8-inch screen.
While Android Auto runs on your phone and is projected onto the car’s screen, Android Automotive is built into the car (or bike). It’s open source , so anyone can use it in its version without Google’s services and apps.
Android Automotive on a Motorcycle At
Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM dates back to 1934, but that tradition is in stark contrast to new technologies. The company has announced that it will incorporate TFT displays and Android Automotive in its upcoming premium motorcycle launches.
Until now we’ve seen a handful of motorcycles with Android Auto support, such as the Honda Gold Wing or Harley Davidson’s Road Glide, but integration of the full operating system, Android Automotive, has been even more elusive.
Now manufacturer KTM wants to change that with its new anti-reflective and anti-fingerprint TFT displays with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, which can be used with or without gloves . On the screen we will see information such as the speedometer or the gear, as well as the controls for the different functions such as the heated seats or the fog lights.
Offline navigation will be integrated into this screen , although the system supports eSim and GPS, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Android Automotive is an open source operating system that can be completely modified to suit the manufacturer. In this case, to adapt its use to a motorcycle despite being technically designed for cars.
With an Android heart, Android Automotive doesn’t necessarily have Google Play or Google services, in which case Google chooses to refer to vehicles as those that support Google Built-in for Cars, rather than Android Automotive. Either way, Android now has a new home after conquering phones, tablets, TVs and cars: motorcycles.