Daimler no enables software developers around the world to access its own mobile Software Development Kit. It sponsored a hackathon at IAA and announced three winners that offer AI, education and social media sharing.
The SDK will be provided to the developer community via the Mercedes-Benz /developer-Platform (https://developer.mercedes-benz.com) and GITHUB.
The goal is to enrich the Mercedes me offer with additional external services to create an even better and more convenient service and product experience for our customers.
The aim is to make even greater use of this creative potential in future. The Mercedes-Benz Mobile SDK, a kind of tool kit for simplified software development, provides developers with various programming interfaces to the vehicle. The information made available in this way includes for example the fuel level and the mileage driven. With the mobile SDK also giving access to basic functions such as the Mercedes me ID login, the young start-ups and software experts can focus entirely on developing new business ideas.
Security always the top priority
Standing above all else, however, is the issue of security: “Hence talking about the Mercedes-Benz Mobile SDK and the chance to provide access between the vehicle itself and the outside world all will be assessed and proceeded through the Daimler Vehicle Backend, which is protected by appropriate security mechanisms. The data is also stored on this secure server. We employ the known IT security mechanisms in accordance with the latest recommendations of the BSI (German Federal Office for Information Security),” stresses Sajjad Khan, Executive Vice President, Member of the Divisional Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Cars, CASE.
The focus of Mercedes-Benz developers is on the customer and therefor anticipating customers’ needs already at the design stage of connected services. For this reason, all systems and services are developed from the beginning with the high data protection standards in mind. It is the customer alone who decides which of their data is made available to third parties via the Daimler Backend, allowing them to benefit of valuable functions. This applies to all offers developed by Mercedes-Benz.
“STOP TALKING – START HACKING” – this was the slogan under which, from 10 to 11 September, Mercedes-Benz staged a 24-hour hackathon at the IAA in Frankfurt in the rooms of the me Convention. Twelve teams used the SDK to develop new Mercedes-Benz services. The top three winners are listed below.
Winner
A Mercedes-Benz A-Class and € 20.000 in SDK credits were awarded to the start-up CleanAI who presented their idea of AI powered dirt and hazards detection for shared cars. They addressed and solved a real demand for the end customers and the fleet business. CleanAI uses deep neural network models capable of detecting dirt, rubbish, lost belongings, spills and other hazards in different environments.
The second prize, € 10.000 in SDK credits, was awarded to the start-up VIMCAR. The team from Berlin presented an app especially for Kids, how to entertain and transfer knowledge within and around the car.
The third prize, €5.000 in SDK credits, was awarded to the start-up autoaid. They demonstrated an app, which allows the driver to share his or her most memorable car moments via different social media channels.