ACO Tech may not be a familiar name to many but this Malaysian-based company has played an important role in Proton’s journey of innovation. As a key affiliate in providing smart mobility solutions in Proton vehicles, ACO Tech has achieved several milestones, particularly in the area of connected cars.
Milestones in Malaysia
Some of the milestones include establishing ASEAN’s first dedicated automotive cloud service which led to the first connected car in Malaysia, the X70. It was also the first to offer localised voice recognition in the country, along with online in-car route navigation. Another first is in Malaysia is a dedicated Vehicle Control app (Proton Link) for owners to interact with their vehicle using a smartphone.
Since its establishment, the company has built a network of over 300,000 connected vehicles in the country. Thanks to ACO Tech, connectivity options, once only available in more expensive cars, are now available for the whole range of Proton models.
ACO Tech (a joint venture established by Proton Edar, ECARX, and Altel, with Proton Edar holding a majority stake) has now been in Malaysia for 5 years and in conjunction with this anniversary, the company has provided a glimpse into the future with the announcement of solutions developed in response to evolving user trends and demands.
ATLAS Re:Imagine
The upcoming advanced ACO Tech offerings (themed ATLAS Re:Imagine) include an advanced version of ATLAS (ACO Tech Local Automotive Services), a vehicle infotainment operating system. The versatile system which has made motoring more convenient and enjoyable, will have more intuitive responses and improved functionality, powered by the latest advances in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and cloud connectivity.
Multi-lingual voice recognition
Malaysians will be delighted to have updated Voice Recognition (VR) capabilities which can respond to commands spoken in Malay and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) languages. This is one of the advantages of ACO Tech being based in Malaysia which puts it right in the market that it serves.
VR has been available in Proton models since the introduction of the X70 and ACO Tech’s data shows that 750,000+ voice commands have been processed by the ATLAS system since 2019.
The most common requests are navigation instructions, telephony, vehicle settings, music selection and operating the windows. The top 5 navigation destinations requested have been petrol station locations, KLCC, KLIA, Ipoh and various shopping centres.
e-Call
Also under development is an e-Call emergency response system, mandatory in some countries, which can make the difference between life and death. The e-Call system will automatically send a call from the vehicle to a control centre when there is a serious accident (determined by sensors in the vehicle and deployment of the airbags).
In this way, emergency services can be alerted earlier and because the vehicle’s location is known from its GPS coordinates, rescuers can get to the vehicle more easily. Studies have shown that the response time can be shortened by as much as 50%. In the EU (European Union), where the system is mandatory, at least 2,500 lives saved annually.
Vehicle-to-vehicle communications
The company is also developing and a cloud-enabled V2V (vehicle-vehicle) communication system, a system which is still quite new in the industry. With V2V, vehicles will literally ‘talk’ to each other and while they won’t be ‘chatting’, they can send crucial information to other vehicles nearby and alert the drivers.
For example, if a vehicle has crashed around a blind corner, it can send messages via V2V to approaching vehicles so the drivers will be aware earlier and not be caught by surprise as they come round the corner – and cause another accident!
V2V is possible since ACO Tech has its cloud service but it also needs to be in as many vehicles as possible. It is likely that Proton will be a pioneer when it introduces this system in future and given its high volumes each month, it can very quickly have a large base of vehicles on the roads which can communicate with each other.
Preparing for EVs
With Proton having started its journey to EVs (Proton e.MAS), ACO Tech is working on a one-touch feature through a built-in application. This will enable users to conveniently locate the nearest charging station, make payments, and plan trips – all with a single app operated from the infotainment system or smartphone.
White Paper
Also presented during the 5th anniversary event was a White Paper entitled “Application Scenarios and Data Governance of Connected Vehicles in Malaysia”. This document, free of charge to the public, provides a detailed analysis of global and Malaysian connected vehicle technology, highlighting advancements in 5G, AI, and big data. These technologies are enhancing road safety, traffic management, and user experiences.
In Malaysia, the focus is on leveraging these innovations alongside strong data security measures to advance connected vehicle systems. Through collaboration with government agencies and automakers and other industry players, ACO Tech has contributed to industry growth, improved data integration, and enhanced user satisfaction.
With the emergence of increasing data-sharing, customer support and community engagement, the white paper advocates for all stakeholders to actively participate in and support data governance efforts, outlining initiatives and recommendations for each stakeholder. The ultimate goal is to facilitate progress in intelligent driving and service optimisation, ensure sustainable development of the industry, and enhance data quality and security.
“Our fifth anniversary marks a significant milestone in our journey as we continue to lead in innovative smart mobility solutions. We have combined local and international talents to develop new technologies that meet current and future consumer demands. ATLAS Re:Imagine is a testament to our commitment to advancing technology and delivering exceptional value to the industry, benefiting our customers, partners, and the country,” said ACO Tech’s CEO, Li Pu.