Transform abstract ideas into tangible solutions, considering market needs and technological advancements yet to come.
BMW Group constantly explores new concepts and functionalities that may not yet have clear solutions available on the market. This is how the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles continues to push the innovation paradigm forward, anticipating trends and opportunities 10+ years ahead.
To achieve the goal of design-technology convergence in the early stages of interior and exterior concept development, the company’s R&D teams need tools that allow them to quickly turn bold hypotheses into working prototypes. The challenge is finding a flexible, cost-effective, and efficient platform that can keep pace with the rapid iteration cycles required to stay ahead in the industry.
To meet these demands, BMW Group has turned to the Arduino ecosystem as their go-to prototyping platform.
Arduino products offer the ideal combination of flexibility, affordability, and ease of use, making them perfect for quickly implementing and testing new concepts. Whether it’s the Arduino Micro for its compact size and versatility, or any of the modules in the functionality-packed Nicla family, BMW Group engineers rely on Arduino to bridge the gap between sensors, actuators, and central processing units in their prototypes.
The open-source nature of Arduino allows for seamless integration with other systems and speeds up the development process. By using Arduino, BMW Group has been able to innovate more swiftly and create more precise prototypes, contributing to their position as a trailblazer in the automotive industry.
Accelerate innovation cycles and create working prototypes for complex ideas with unique specifications
Rely on open, intuitive, and easy-to-use solutions that seamlessly integrate also with non-Arduino hardware
Leverage a modular ecosystem of boards and shields for connectivity and sensor fusion
Creating working prototypes in record time opens up opportunities for multiple departments.
R&D teams support colleagues who wish to further explore new concepts, even when they do not have a technical or electronics background. The accessible Arduino ecosystem has proven invaluable in this, establishing a platform for low-risk electronic prototyping that accelerates innovation at BMW Group.