Confitech’s MOCHIP: Driving And Engine Performance Monitor
Korean company Confitech was displaying their Mochip at this years New Tech exhibition. The Mochip is attached to a digital device such as a cell phone or PDA and plugged into your cars on board diagnosis system (OBD). The OBD will give a complete diagnosis of the car and will alert the user if their are any problems with the engine. It is the same thing a professional mechanic will do when you bring your car in for repairs. However, until recently the diagnostic machines where very expensive and their use was restricted to auto repair shops.
The Mochip and its software can mimic these expensive machines by sending the data from the OBD to a cellphone using Bluetooth. From there the data can be sent to the Drive Car server using a LAN or WiBro connection. The user can then access the Drive Care website to view the analysis of their vehicle. The Mochip gives consumers a quick and easy to understand diagnosis of their vehicle and recommends when its time for repairs.
The American company ESP already has developed a kiosk called Smart Auto Management(SAM) that performs the same task. The kiosks are currently being tested in several states at gas stations and auto repair shops. The company has plans to expand into Canada later this year. Using the SAM kiosk currently costs $15 USD per use.
Confitech and ESP have two very different approaches to enabling access to the OBD. Naturally ESP’s approach for now seems to be the better approach for North America, while Confitech’s method is more fitting for tech savy Korea.
However, these different approaches and perhaps even these two companies may find themselves on a collision course in the next couple of years. Although most people are content to only check on the condition of their car after something goes wrong, a large number of car enthusiasts may wish to have their own personal device that can access their cars OBD. The Mochip method provides information on the engines performance quickly and although the cost is currently unknown over time would appear to provide significant cost savings, and added convenience.
Success for Confitech and ESP could ultimately attract the biggest threat to their business of all, the auto manufactures who may decide to make Mochip a standard option on all cars if they are received well.
