Harman acquires Apostera GmbH
Harman International Industries has been pushing the automotive segment for years, and the acquisition of the German company Apostera GmbH, a specialist for augmented reality and mixed reality solutions in the automotive sector, should now be seen in this light.
For some time now, Harman International Industries has been one of the leading companies in the field of audio systems for the automotive segment, acting both as a pure OEM supplier and as a manufacturer of various Group brands in this market environment. The company, which as is well known is part of the Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. group, can call itself one of the technology pioneers, whereby it has long since ceased to limit itself to pure audio solutions, but is playing a significant role in the future of networked solutions and the corresponding integration into the vehicle.
It is also fitting that Harman International Industries is now acquiring Apostera GmbH, a company that is considered a proven specialist in the automotive segment, namely in the area of augmented reality solutions.
Solutions that merge the virtual and the real world
Apostera GmbH is dedicated to systems that provide direct support to the driver, focusing on an intuitive presentation in a so-called head-up display, but going far beyond current systems. The company states, for example, that its systems help drivers understand exactly where they need to perform a maneuver. The German company’s systems are designed to give drivers a clear view not only of what is happening in front of them, but also of what is happening around the corner. To do this, it relies on vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, where all cues are virtually projected in front of the car at a certain distance.
Solutions from Apostera GmbH are already being used, for example, in the Audi Q4 e-tron as well as Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback.
“Harman’s goal is to create an in-car experience that combines the speed and flexibility of consumer technologies with the reliability and performance of automotive-grade products. By seamlessly merging AR with the physical environment, Apostera’s mixed reality solution supports this goal, transforming every in-car display into a rich contextual experience.”
Christian Sobottka, President, Automotive Division Harman International Industries
He said the acquisition of Apostera GmbH will enable Harman International Industries to develop completely new systems for the automotive sector that rely on augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) solutions. This is intended to strengthen its position in the automotive sector.
Apostera GmbH’s mixed reality product combines augmented reality, machine learning, computer vision and sensor fusion in a “hardware-agnostic” software platform, Harman International Industries said. Combined the company’s own long-standing approach around its digital cockpit product portfolio, these new software products will bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds.
Getting to the point
The now announced acquisition of the German company Apostera GmbH is further evidence that leading consumer electronics manufacturers such as Harman International Industries have long since moved beyond limiting their involvement in the automotive segment to pure audio playback alone, and are now playing a key role in designing completely new systems in the area of driver assistance systems all the way to autonomous driving.
Brand | HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES |
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Manufacturer | Harman International Industries |
Distribution Germany | Harman International Industries |
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