It strikes fear in the hearts of drivers — the ominous "check engine" light.
But a Cambridge-based startup is aiming to take the worry out of car ownership, launching a new service that can alert drivers when there's a problem with their vehicle, remotely diagnose the issue, and track down local mechanics to provide bids on the repairs.
"We'll be able to diagnose that check-engine light for you in real time, we'll know what the error codes are, we'll know the severity," said Rob Infantino, founder and chief executive of Openbay. "We'll also tell you the number of shops willing to do the repair and their rating and location."
Using a small device that plugs into a car's on-board diagnostic system, the com- pany's OpenbayConnect service wirelessly gathers information, automatically analyzes the data and translates trouble codes when something goes wrong. If the issue is serious, OpenbayConnect will survey nearby mechanics in its database to find price quotes and availability, and deliver binding quotes through the Openbay app.
Manufacturers are placing more sensors throughout veh-icles, making it easier to figure out the problem automatically, Infantino said. The device will fit in any car made after 1996, which is more than 80 percent of cars on the road, the company said.
"The more and more sensors we have, the more we can detect," Infantino said, "and what we detect, we can diagnose."
Through an early-access program to get feedback and to help improve the service, Boston drivers can get a free diagnostic device. Eventually, Openbay will likely partner with one of the existing companies that produce and sell the devices.
"The reality of it is, this is the future," said John Paul, "Car Doctor" for AAA New England. "This part is cutting-edge right now, and the concept sounds great."
Still, there are some complications OpenbayConnect must deal with in order to get it right, Paul said.
"(A check-engine light) could generate an oxygen sensor code, but the code could have nothing to do with an oxygen sensor failure," he said.
Backed by venture capital investment, including from Google Ventures, Openbay.com launched in 2013 as an auto repair marketplace.
"This has been my vision since we started the company," Infantino said. "The connected car has been my vision, to completely automate the end-to-end process."
Plugged in: How it works
OpenbayConnect uses a device to plug into a vehicle's diagnostics system to automatically determine what's wrong with it, who can fix it and at what cost. Here's how it works:
• An on-board diagnostic device plugs into a vehicle's OBDII port.
• It detects an issue.
• Trouble codes and diagnostics are wirelessly transmitted.
• Codes and diagnostics are analyzed.
• An alert explains what's wrong and includes estimates from local mechanics to fix it.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
App troubleshoots car issues, delivers quotes
Dengan url
http://terakhirjaman.blogspot.com/2015/04/app-troubleshoots-car-issues-delivers.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
App troubleshoots car issues, delivers quotes
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
App troubleshoots car issues, delivers quotes
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar