NIO car owners’ Aspen 3.1.0 communication meeting minutes: Key features introduction and Q&A.

Here is the translated text in English Markdown with retained HTML tags:

Below is my live note-taking from the NIO Aspen 3.1.0 communication conference, and I’ll quickly summarize the key features for everyone.

Key feature introduction

1. Light theme mode, interface design improvements

   1. Better experience than the previous light theme not just by changing a few textures, but also considering different gray levels, brightness, and contrast colors to improve the readability of upper icons and text.
   2. Optimized issues on the dark theme mode, in 15+ primary scenarios
      1. Increased contrast for map interfaces (road and address information)
      2. Readable, but not blindingly bright

2. New design for the center console screen

   1. Deepened layering, not just white
   2. Interface z-axis layering
   3. Increased battery swap information for small card areas, with continuous guidance through the entire process and dynamic information display.
   4. Added battery swap station and estimated range on the navigation path.

3. New design for the instrument panel screen

   1. One-shot view of the car state including charging ports and doors by opening the door.
   2. Added energy consumption curve to the right card of the instrument panel.
   3. Right card of the instrument panel can remember last state.

4. New design for HUD

   1. Enlarged left icon
   2. Slightly raised the Autohold icon
   3. Unified stroke size, adjusted weight, and progress bar.

5. Overall optimization of the OS

   1. Added English interface version (excluding third-party apps and NOMI voice).
   2. The Quick Control Screen can have a second page and can be sorted through sliding.
   3. Added the “Task Manager” for quick switching between applications.
      

6. Convenient entry and exit

   1. Based on the unlocking and starting functions of mobile Bluetooth, etc.
   2. Does not depend on the network.
   3. No need to place the phone on the charging board to start the vehicle.
   4. Will be updated in the NIO App 5.1 (App also fixed other minor issues).
   5. Cannot achieve “no-touch” entry, still need to manually open the “My car” interface and unlock the vehicle.“`

7. Cannot implement automatic locking when leaving the car (only supported by Banyan, possibly a hardware limitation for Aspen)

8. Near car summoning (NBS) is based on Bluetooth connection for improved experience

   1. No key required
   2. First time use requires 30s wait for car machine startup and wake-up
   3. NBS based on Bluetooth greatly reduces latency, less need for so much advance reservation

9. One command response, no need to wait for NOMI to answer “yes” before giving continuous instructions

   1. Added support for more commands
   2. NOMI added new emojis (eating melon)
   3. NOMI’s response and wake-up speed increased slightly, will continue to optimize

10. Driving experience

    1. 360-degree panoramic view optimized
       1. Reduced the size of the car model to leave 20-30cm of display for safe distance
       2. Radar display optimized, obstacle halos changed to dynamic curves to avoid screen obstruction
       3. Dynamic transparent chassis (can it remember previous information if parked and restarted?)
    2. NIO Pilot
       1. NP can be adjusted to speed limit with one click (10s reminder, press + to confirm)
       2. Allow adjustment of vehicle speed when following preceding vehicle to stop
       3. Smooth automatic deceleration when exceeding limit speed
       4. Adjust speed in large curvature bends to avoid deviation from center line
       5. Automatic parking reduces tire wear, parking search speed up to 21km/h allowed
       6. Optimize NOP deceleration smoothness when entering toll stations
       7. Improve ability to change lanes across solid and dashed lines

11. Other operating system improvements

    1. Improved voice input method
    2. Improved wireless charging compatibility
    3. Optimized air suspension (will continue to improve in future)
    4. version 3.1 adds a combination key restart function, no need to wait for 15 minutes and leave the car for restart，but 15 minutes is the whole vehicle reboot at gateway-level, slightly different

Next version preview

Q1: Next version: Gaode Maps
Q2: Camping Mode, More Apps, External Power Supply, Smart Cabin Upgrade (including recorder, etc.)

Q&A Segment

1. When will the chip upgrade start, car machine response is too slow

   1. Smart cabin hardware upgrade will be communicated and launched in Q2
   2. The current slow response is mainly due to hardware limitations, but there is also room for software optimization, and we are studying the possibility of early wake-up and low voltage modes.

2. When will Gaode Maps specifically go online?

   1. The main workload is matching with NOP and LBS information.“`

3. Next version release date to be announced

4. Can ambient lights turn into breathing lights that change with the music?

5. There may be a chance, but it is not a high priority

6. Will there be a single-pedal driving mode and will Autohold be added?

7. Autohold will be added in the next version, but there are still some details to be optimized

8. The safety issue of gear shifting in single-pedal driving mode is temporarily put on hold, and more communication and understanding are hoped for

9. When will there be a camping mode? The car door lights and screen affect sleeping

10. A complete camping mode includes exterior and interior lighting and air conditioning linkage design

11. The initial development has been completed, and it will be launched in Q2

12. Pet mode

13. Similar to camping mode, it will be discussed in the first half of this year

14. Automatic steering for parking in and out

15. There is no plan for Aspen at the moment

16. Long-distance planning for map travel

17. It will take a long time to continue

18. Various third-party apps

19. There will be a wave of new applications in Q2, which cannot be revealed for the time being

20. NOMI voice recognition is inaccurate

    1. Improve the listening ability in Q2-Q3 of this year
    2. Improve the awakening and conversation abilities in Q3-Q4 of this year
    3. Continuous optimization

21. Summon repeatedly exits and fails

    1. The startup speed needs to be improved in conjunction with hardware upgrades

22. Can the side view video be displayed when turning?

    1. Currently, there is no plan, but it may be considered in the future

23. The instrument panel adds multiple views (according to the driving mode or scene)

    1. There may be adjustments and optimizations on the right side

24. Options for parking without shutting down or sleeping

    1. Will consider giving users options

25. ES6 rear control air conditioning instructions cannot be used

    1. Will be optimized as soon as possible, and instructions will be connected

26. Will NIO follow the updates of traffic regulations, increase the upper limit speed of the navigation assistant, and provide reminders below the minimum speed limit?

    1. This will not be done actively for the time being
    2. It can be combined with automatic recommended vehicle speed to do some lightweight interaction

27. The high-speed NOP always changes to the leftmost lane (even if the leftmost lane is not clear)

    1. Needs to be considered, feedback received, and strive for subsequent optimizations

28. Changing the radar display to curve feels worse than before, and it is difficult to judge the distance of obstacles

    1. May need to be optimized, will discuss with car owners; it also involves habits that need to be adapted

29. Different sound effects for different gears when shifting, currently unclear and sometimes logically contradictory, causing misunderstandings when the prompt sound is not successful but the actual gear shifting is successful

    1. A new design will be made to check the problems, and it will definitely be optimized in the next version

30. Ghost brakes occur when entering the tunnel, even on straight highways (such as Guangzhongjiang Expressway)

    1. Feedback has been received on this issue
       “““

31. The entrance of the tunnel is a challenging scene for radar and vision fusion solutions.

32. Reducing the speed limit from 100 to 80 is not a sudden decrease, but the problem of braking after entering the tunnel at 80 needs to be investigated.

33. Can the sliding direction of the quick card be changed from left to right to right to left for the co-pilot?

    1. We will consider it. We have considered it before but cut it off.

34. Why is the air filter always 99%?

    1. It is a problem with the software algorithm prediction.

35. Can the transparent chassis memory?

    1. External environment changes could affect safety. For example, obstacles under the car after parking. Therefore, we will not do this for now.

36. Can the switch of automatic wipers be memorized? Can the icon be displayed on the dashboard (because the button cannot show the status)?

    1. It cannot be achieved due to Aspen’s hardware limitations.

37. Simulated waves of sound.

    1. Banyan will have it, but not Aspen.

38. Suspension optimization.

    1. It can improve consistency differences (sometimes loose, sometimes tight, sometimes soft, and sometimes hard) and solve the Schrödinger problem.
    2. There is no essential change in terms of basic soft/hard and suspension characteristics but is mainly limited by hardware.

These are all my transcriptions. Please leave a message in the comments if you have any questions.
“`

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.