BlackBerry has launched QNX Sound, a development platform that decouples audio and acoustics software from the vehicle hardware to give audio designers and engineers “complete creative freedom” to deliver a new in-vehicle sound experience.
QNX Sound enables the incorporation of audio and acoustic functionalities into the software-defined vehicle architecture’s main software stack, using pre-integrated and pre-tested core technologies. This encompasses a ready-to-use library of automotive acoustics functional modules for various purposes such as telephony, safety alerts, noise reduction, sound enhancement and media playback. It also provides advanced tuning tools through a graphical programming interface, enabling limitless creativity in signal processing.
A fully software-driven foundation enables auto makers to explore new audio-based services and collaborate with technology companies and multimedia content providers. The collaboration can introduce new value-added features into vehicles, creating opportunities for generating revenue through optional feature activations or upgrades from basic audio to premium levels through on-demand or subscription services.
QNX Sound is “the only software-defined audio and acoustics solution for the automotive industry that has been fully tested in production and pre-integrated in next generation System on Chip (SoCs)”, BlackBerry states. The platform is pre-integrated with BlackBerry QNX Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and QNX Hypervisor. It includes an audio extension mechanism, enabling third-party signal processing suppliers to compile and deploy their own c-code algorithms.
It has also been pre-tested with leading measurement and simulation equipment suppliers and conforms to industry open standards like VirtIO, supporting sound design, tuning and signal flow design capabilities for new features in the cloud and, eventually, on hardware targets.
John Wall, senior vice president and head of QNX at BlackBerry, said, “QNX Sound is the ultimate digital audio platform for the automotive industry and the most comprehensive foundation available for innovation. Through it, we enable auto makers to explore new business opportunities and exciting collaborations that will truly appeal to and excite the end user.”
