The Grandeur is the true flagship sedan of Hyundai Motor Company. This model has repeatedly changed generations over the past 36 years and has set a new standard in the Korean luxury sedan market with the best technology of the time - the same goes for the 7th generation, The All New Grandeur. It raised the standard of the market once again by reflecting future-oriented design, luxurious details, and various powertrains that emphasized efficiency and performance.
Of course, The All New Grandeur has all the latest features we expect from a flagship sedan - like Hyundai Motor’s first ‘Built-in Cam 2’. Built-In Cam 2 has greatly enhanced functions such as a camera with improved image quality compared to the first generation, over-the-air (OTA) software update, and voice recording. This model is the result of actively reflecting user opinions. This is very unique as it features various conveniences as well as basic functions as a driving video recording device. Donghyuk Jeong and senior researcher Kichul Kim of Electronic Convenience Control Development Team 1, who were in charge of planning and mass production development, and senior researcher Seong-hwan Jeon and researcher Kyung-jun Kim of Electronic Convenience Control Test Team, who were in charge of tuning camera image quality, verifying functional suitability, and securing system stability, talked about the development of Built-In Cam 2.
Q. The Grandeur is Hyundai's flagship model that is always fully loaded with the latest features. So, it seems that there was a lot of trouble to provide the function to suit this model. What was the most important part while developing Built-In Cam 2?
Senior researcher Dong-hyuk Jeong | Built-In Cam 2 was developed with an emphasis on two main areas. The first is the function of the built-in cam. This is because the driving video recorder must be able to serve the necessary functions at the right time so that users can feel the true value. To this end, it was necessary to analyze user opinions. Users' opinions were collected from clubs and various social media channels. Through the collected opinions, we identified common requested improvements - like high-spec front and rear cameras and a newly added voice recording function.
Senior researcher Kichul Kim | The second goal was to improve product quality. To this end, we made it possible to check and play the saved video on the ccNC (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit) screen, and added a function to store vehicle speed, gear position, turn signal operation, and GPS-based location information. . In addition, there are wireless software updates that can always be kept up to date, impact detection recording notification and stored video transmission function while parking through Blue Link service, and built-in Wi-Fi that helps quick and convenient connection of smartphone applications.
Q. As a result of analyzing user opinions for the development of Built-In Cam 2, what kind of opinions were there?
Senior researcher Kichul Kim | First-generation built-in cam users showed great satisfaction with the neat design of this new single-module product and the playback and setting functions of its infotainment screen. The convenient connectivity of dedicated applications was also appreciated. However, they were dissatisfied with the fact that voice recording is not possible, the rear camera with poor quality, the embedded multimedia card (eMMC, Embedded MultiMedia Card) method, and the fixed storage space. This inconvenience influenced the development of the Built-In Cam 2; Users' opinions revealed its flaws well, and through this, product quality and user satisfaction increased at the same time.
Q. Please explain the improvement of Built-In Cam 2.
Senior researcher Dong-hyuk Jeong | The improved parts of Built-In Cam 2 can be divided into 5 major categories. First of all, it is the improvement of camera quality. Built-in Cam 1 uses 1920×1080 FHD (Full HD) and 1280×720 HD cameras, respectively, for the front and rear cameras. On the other hand, Built-In Cam 2 improved the quality of both the front and rear cameras to 2560 × 1440 QHD (Quad HD). The rear camera has four times the resolution compared to the previous model. A voice recording function has also been added. In addition, other improvements include support for an external microSD memory that replaces the built-in multimedia card, a vehicle driving data storage system, and remote viewing of impact detection images while parked.
Q. How much has the Built-In Cam 2's camera improved?
Senior researcher Seong-hwan Jeon | Improving camera quality is one of the big changes. The first-generation built-in cam consisted of a full HD front camera with 1920×1080 specifications and a 1280×720 HD rear camera. In terms of pixels, the front and rear cameras had 2 million and 1 million pixels, respectively. In particular, the rear camera lacked image quality because it was commonly used as a parking camera. On the other hand, Built-In Cam 2 improved the specifications of the front and rear cameras to 2560 × 1440 QHD, which is 3.7 million pixels. Compared to the built-in cam 1, the front camera is 1.85 times larger, and as mentioned earlier, the rear camera features 4 times higher resolution. In addition, the aperture value (F-Number) has also been improved to F1.6 compared to the current F2.0. When this F-Number is lowered, the recorded image becomes brighter because more light is gathered. In addition, image tuning technology minimizes noise and light loss, enabling clear recording even in dark places.
Q. What are the advantages of the micro SD external memory method? Also, please explain the maximum storage capacity.
Senior researcher Kichul Kim | The advantage of micro SD external memory storage is that it is easy to transfer memory and can be replaced with a high-capacity memory card. However, the micro SD external memory method may cause contact failure due to vibration or shock. To prevent this, component selection and durability evaluation during the development process ensured its reliability.
Built-In Cam 2 also significantly increased its storage capacity. Unlike built-in cam 1, which was 32GByte, 64GByte micro SD card memory is provided as standard, and the maximum supported capacity is 512GByte. For users who need a larger storage space, genuine micro SD card memory with a capacity of 128GB is available at Hyundai Motor Company’s official online mall ‘Hyundai Shop’. In addition, the connected car service informs the status information of the micro SD card memory. This function also notifies the user of the replacement time according to the memory card status. High-capacity micro SD card memory is also compatible, but is not recommended to prevent performance degradation.
Q. Built-In Cam 2 is a driving video recording device, so it must be supported by data storage capabilities. How much longer did the recording time of Built-In Cam 2 compare to the previous one?
Researcher Kyung-jun Kim | More storage means more data; Based on the built-in 64GByte memory, the recording time while driving increased from 3 hours to 4 hours, and the recording time while parking increased from 20 hours to 40 hours. In addition, the number of impact detection and storage while driving/parking also increased. Compared to the built-in cam 1, which covers 30 impacts, it has been increased to 40; Manual save also increased from 30 times to 40 times. The impact detection storage time can be set by the user in units of 5 seconds. For example, if you want to save 10 seconds of video before and after the impact detection point, you can simply designate the point of time to save. If you replace it with a high-capacity memory card instead of the built-in memory, the storage time and number of times will increase as much as the capacity.
Q. Another feature is that driving data such as vehicle speed and gear are stored together. Please explain the technology used to store driving data and its advantages.
Senior researcher Dong-hyuk Jeong | Driving video recording devices such as built-in cams are often used as evidence of accidents. For example, if an accident occurs while changing lanes, the percentage of fault is determined according to whether the turn signal is activated after analyzing the stored video. This is the biggest reason for adding the driving data storage function. Driving data such as turn signal and speed is collected through vehicle communication, and the information updated in real time is highly accurate because it is synchronized with the video recording time. In addition, based on the navigation map, the driving location information is stored together, so the driving location can be checked on the ccNC screen.
Q. A wireless software update function has been added to Built-In Cam 2. What are the advantages of this?
Senior researcher Seong-hwan Jeon | Since the marketability of a general black box is relatively deteriorated due to factors such as the launch of a new product, it is necessary to replace the device periodically. However, the Built-In Cam 2 with wireless software update is automatically updated whenever new software is developed, so it always has the latest features. In addition, new features such as connectivity services are also available through updates. Software updates are carried out via wireless communication. The update file transmitted to the vehicle is downloaded and installed after a simple authentication process for security.
Q. When a general black box is installed, a separate dedicated battery is installed for smooth operation. Is there a similar device for Built-In Cam 2?
Senior researcher Dong-hyuk Jeong | Built-In Cam 2 operates using a dual power system battery without using a separate dedicated battery. The dual power system developed by the Electronic Power Control Development Team refers to a system that overcomes the limitations of the current 12V low voltage main battery, responds to increased power use during parking, and supplies power stably. The parking-lithium battery module (P-LBM) installed in the vehicle is charged and discharged according to the surrounding environment. In addition, it provides optimal power for always-on recording and over-the-air software updates of the Built-In Cam 2 while parked. Maintenance costs are lower because the system does not require an additional auxiliary battery.
Q. Built-In Cam 2 is also capable of Ethernet communication. Please explain the advantages and transmission speed of Ethernet communication.
Senior researcher Dong-hyuk Jeong | Some models with built-in cam 1 also housed Ethernet communication. However, it could only perform limited functions. On the other hand, Built-In Cam 2 has been improved to make full use of Ethernet communication - a function that allows ccNC to play back files recorded by the built-in cam via Ethernet, for example. To put it simply, it is similar to accessing and using files on a PC at home through a company PC network. The most important thing in this technology was security, and encryption and mock hacking verification were conducted to optimize this.
In addition, when an impact is detected while parking, the stored video transmission and update software files can be quickly downloaded and processed using Ethernet. In addition, using SOME/IP (Scalable service-Oriented Middleware over IP) communication, the built-in cam storage and interlocking data, which were difficult to transmit through CAN, can be transmitted and received at high speed.
Q. Built-In Cam 2 has a built-in Wi-Fi module. Please explain the effect of this, how to connect the smartphone, and the data transmission process.
Researcher Kyung-jun Kim | Built-in Cam 1 required a dongle, an external peripheral device connected to a USB port to connect to a smartphone. Because of this, it was not possible to use it for reasons such as dongles that did not fit the specifications or discontinued devices. The built-in Wi-Fi module prevents such problems and improves usability. Users do not have to purchase a dongle because communication is performed with the built-in Wi-Fi module, and software management is simplified. In addition, the connection with the smartphone has been integrated into the Blue Link application, a connected car service, increasing convenience. Users can connect through the Wi-Fi connection menu in the built-in cam menu on the ccNC screen. It is a simplified communication method between the built-in cam and smartphone, and it is available to play, download, or set functions.
Built-In Cam 2 provides the unique value of The All New Grandeur with countless functions such as wireless software update, voice recording, and driving data storage. The fact that this model was developed with user feedback also makes the Built-In Cam 2 special; This is development through true ‘communication’. The infinite value of The All New Grandeur with this Built-In Cam 2 further evolved the Korean luxury sedan market.
Photography by Hyuk-soo Jo
HMG Journal Operation Team
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