Chapter 190 - 184 Open Source Vehicle System_1

"Meridian Intelligent Satellite Network not only provides precise navigation and positioning services for ground-based operations, but also plays a valuable role in space. Aberhira Space Station successfully completed the docking assembly of the last module at 14:20 yesterday afternoon, thanks to Meridian navigation,"

"At the same time, users with Meridian navigation systems installed in their vehicles can use the emergency rescue function in urgent situations to assist with satellite-based positioning and communication..."

It was the year 2016, a year that might be considered a bit "primitive." Meridian navigation systems were being fitted into map detection vehicles that roamed nationwide, while also serving as a marketing tool for their own software.

On June 26, as the last module of Hila Space Station ascended, Meridian navigation immediately seized the opportunity to ride the wave, vigorously promoting itself.

After all, if space missions utilized it, why shouldn’t cars? What does "space quality" even mean (leans back).

In densely populated areas, there were even advertising vehicles hired to broadcast continuously, while also mounting a strong promotional campaign online.

Guangqi Company has announced that the vehicle systems of this year’s new models will only support Meridian & Beidou navigation and will provide each user with one free emergency satellite communication service.

Xin’an cars, on the other hand, didn’t need to bother. The XW series intelligent driving systems were touted as smarter and more user-friendly than Meridian navigation, and adding a connected conversational assistant was not complex.

Other manufacturers could also choose "Meridian" vehicle systems.

"11,500 Yuan? That expensive? All the profit goes to the vehicle system, what justifies that for something so small?"

Looking at the agitated Guangqi Company official before him, Chen Jun remained as immovable as Taishan and spoke in an unhurried way:

"Just the hardware might indeed be a bit pricey, but the chips that support both Beidou and the Meridian Intelligent Network along with artificial intelligence are worth a lot of money, and satellite services are expensive too. Plus, the more you buy, the lower the price becomes."

After spinning around in space for 7 days, Chen Jun himself underwent a notable change. He became more confident and composed than before.

Following the launch of the XW series intelligent driving system, it presented a crushing superiority to domestic and international manufacturers, compelling them to work on intelligent driving as well.

But with the constraints of hardware, there’s a limit to what can be achieved. Features like adaptive cruise control are probably the max; the prospect of approaching fully autonomous driving, as Xin’an does, is simply unimaginable.

Fortunately, Xin’an didn’t keep the technology to itself. After University Information Communication introduced Meridian navigation, they joined forces to develop an open-source semi-finished intelligent vehicle system, compatible with both fuel and electric vehicles, allowing manufacturers to purchase it in customized batches.

This semi-finished product was radically restricted. It had the XW161 severely pared down and merged with some chat AI functions—it used a single X32216 chip, a cost-reduced version of the 322 series taken from the X321 line, which also included a basic circuit module supporting binary protocols, reducing most of the adapter components.

Then they opened it up to national manufacturers to adapt according to different levels and then purchase the vehicle system from Xin’an.

Although the cost of the drastically reduced semi-finished product was very low, and the price seemed reasonable to Xinyuan, manufacturers still felt the pinch.

Xinyuan’s launch of two models aimed at the lower-middle market was another big success. Even the XW161 system provided an auxiliary driving experience beyond what people imagined, to the point where cars without intelligent driving were being called "traditional cars" in the market, as if they were about to become obsolete.

Of course, the giants in this sector like Baidu, Tencent, and 360, all strong internet companies, had started their own intelligent driving projects. Sadly, the results were slow and not as reliable as the XW series.

Xin’an’s semi-open sourced vehicle system thus became the best solution for many manufacturers. However, even if they wanted to buy, they couldn’t do so without restrictions.

The 28nm production capacity wasn’t abundant in China at that time and was still considered the highest domestic process manufacturing available. Only three chip foundries were supplying it, with limited allocation to the X322 series. Combined with the demand for more chips by the high-end vehicle systems, they could supply roughly four hundred thousand sets a year.

This number wasn’t large, at least not in the face of demand, which made the Guangqi official reluctantly accept Chen Jun’s steep prices.

"Ten thousand per unit, same conditions as before, customized voice, customized AI, special features include fuel-saving and noise reduction. Give us twenty thousand sets of the two gradings to start!"

Typically, automobile ECUs for fuel cars already feature a learning capability, allowing automatic adjustments within certain parameters to improve lifespan and fuel efficiency. However, Xin’an’s intelligent vehicle system is significantly stronger and can replace the traditional ECU entirely.

Traditional ECUs adapt according to the driver’s habits, requiring a "break-in period." Intelligent vehicle systems, on the other hand, are different. They can decide in real-time based on road conditions and vehicle gear status, which is much more flexible.

Chen Jun sighed upon hearing the offer of ten thousand: "This price was originally unacceptable, but considering Guangqi is our first client, Xin’an will make an exception and supply it at a discount. But it can’t be like this in the future, Mr. Yao. I still want to go to space one more time based on my achievements."

As he spoke, he turned his head as if inadvertently, allowing Mr. Yao’s gaze to naturally extend to the huge photograph on the wall behind his desk.

Seven people in exterior space suits stood outside the Cloud Palace Core Module—three tourists and four professional astronauts who had gathered for a spacewalk, setting a new record for the number of humans working in space. They carefully timed the photo to avoid direct sunlight, lifting their visors to reveal clear faces to the camera, with Chen Jun’s smiling face visible as the third from the left.

"Well then, thank you, Mr. Chen. How about I invite you out tonight..."

"No, no, no, the company has a policy that no manager is allowed to accept private invitations, so let’s not break the bank."

Seeing Chen Jun’s firm stance, Mr. Yao felt it inappropriate to insist any further. After signing the intent agreement, he left.

In his mind, he marveled that it was said that everyone at Xinyuan Company had exceptional integrity, and he had thought it was just talk. It turned out to be true—ethics were highly valued, and public and private affairs were distinctly separated.

Even though Xin’an was a joint venture between Xinyuan and Guangqi Company, it fully embraced Xinyuan’s management and research and development systems, almost indistinguishable from one another, allowing for internal personnel transfers. However, this was not possible with Guangqi Company.

Lin Ju had absolute control over Xin’an, which wasn’t solely determined by shares but by the will of the people.

Indeed, Lin Ju had already announced across Xinyuan Aeronautics, Xin’an, University Information Communication, and other companies that space tourism would become a unique benefit for the Xinyuan Group. Moreover, it wouldn’t be reserved exclusively for executives. Under similar contribution levels, priority would be given to those who haven’t had the chance to go to space.

By leveraging the unique advantage of the System Research Institute, he established a completely separate internal system for research and development and sales, leading to highly efficient and incorruptible internal management while avoiding feelings of repression.