How Bluetooth Technology
Helps Aeon Motor Build a
Comprehensive Internet of
Vehicles Service

Taiwan’s scooter density is the highest in the world. However, the incidence rate of A1 accidents (i.e., the fatal traffic accidents causing immediate death or death within 24 hours) in Taiwan remains obstinately high. Therefore, scooter road safety is an urgent matter that requires public awareness. If we can build a comprehensive, smart internet of vehicles (IoV) that integrates Bluetooth^® technology, edge computing, and cloud technologies, we can notify riders/drivers of speed detectors, navigation instructions, and traffic updates with audio via Bluetooth headphones, creating a safer experience.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with the CEO of Aeon Motor, Tony Lin, to discuss the development of the IoV. We also discussed how Bluetooth technology meets Aeon’s high transmission speed and reliability requirements for its CROXERA Smart Dashboard and ensures a comprehensive IoV service for consumers.

Q&A with Tony Lin, Aeon Motor CEO

How are you using Bluetooth technology in your IoV products?

CROXERA1 (launched in 2018) and the latest CROXERA 5 are integrated in smart electric scooters. Both adopt Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) technology to support rigid cost and power requirements. The wireless solution meets the products’ needs for low energy consumption with extremely low operating and standby power while improving data transfer speed and privacy protection. Such features significantly boost the functionality of the CROXERA Smart Dashboard. For our future products, we look forward to using the latest features of Bluetooth technology for faster data transfer. The latest Bluetooth technology features enable IoT applications with lower energy consumption and higher performance.

Bluetooth^® technology allows Aeon to create the data transfer link between the mobile phone and the dashboard. Since the dashboard for traditional scooters accounts for a smaller portion of vehicle cost, building all computing capabilities in the smart dashboard would increase the price. Furthermore, it would raise privacy issues with personal data breaches. CROXERA’s design incorporates Bluetooth technology and splits the computing capabilities into three parts — edge computing, cloud computing, and the collaborative device. Following this framework, the dashboard is defined as a collaborative device, operating in collaboration with the mobile phone linked via Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth technology allows the dashboard to receive computing results from the edge computing device (i.e., the mobile phone and app), respond accordingly, and send vehicle information back to the mobile phone. With 4G/5G connectivity, the mobile phone then synchronizes data to the cloud, enabling the collaborative device to connect with the cloud and increase data transfer efficiency. The mobile phone responsible for edge computing can also serve as a router; if the user has Bluetooth headphones, the mobile phone can send audio navigation instructions. This feature further compliments the intelligent control of the auxiliary system of the dashboard.

Why did you choose Bluetooth technology?

Since iPhone adopted Bluetooth^® features in 2011, countless IoT peripheral devices have sprung up in the market. Nowadays, most developers opt for Bluetooth LE due to its low energy consumption, high price-performance ratio, high and reliable transmission speed, and solid system security. Aeon chose Bluetooth LE based on these advantages as well. The smart dashboard has become a common feature for high-end automobiles.

Comparatively, if we install it directly onto all scooters and motorcycles, we will have to raise the selling price significantly. While taking the consumer perspective into account, Aeon chose to adopt distributed computing system between the smart dashboard and mobile phone to reduce costs. Then, computing results are transmitted via Bluetooth^® technology to the dashboard. This solution balances between technical requirements and cost effectiveness. Another concern for electric vehicles is range anxiety. Leveraging the strong suit of Bluetooth technology — that data transfer between the dashboard and the mobile phone could be maintained with little energy consumption — we can keep the overall energy consumption of the vehicle low.

Does AEON MOTOR have further plans for digital key applications, and what trends or changes will the digital key will bring to the IoV?

As we enter the digital age, the digital wallet or digital key synchronized with the mobile phone via Bluetooth^® technology is now one of the most widely applied solutions. Being highly secure, Bluetooth technology meets the needs of most cybersecurity scenarios. Electric vehicles also adopt the digital key to ensure control over the vehicle in Bluetooth and internet communications. To safeguard the rider’s personal data, Aeon uses double authentication via the personal device and the cloud environment. When the user connects to the dashboard for the first time, Security Manager Protocol (SMP) is activated to upload the user’s vehicle information to the cloud environment through SaaS. Then, the app initiates two-way bonding to verify it is the same user across the dashboard and the vehicle. Meanwhile, the app screens out the Bluetooth macs of other users since they are not the user pairing with the dashboard initially. This way, the vehicle and the dashboard can only be accessed by an individual rider/user. The app also adopts an appropriate disconnect/reconnect mechanism to maintain a stable connection to multiple Bluetooth devices.