Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12Winter 2016-2017 100 million lines of code running their onboard computer systems, it’s no surprise that advances in software are driving innovation within the industry. It’s also not the first time GM has focused on connecting its vehicles. In 1996, the auto giant launched OnStar, the first advanced vehicle telematics system of its kind, which would later introduce hands free calling, a service now ubiquitous throughout the market through Bluetooth enabled vehicles. Its services have since expanded to include additional safety and security features, such as automatic crash response, which uses sensors to predict the severity of a crash and potential injuries in order to dispatch the appropriate level of assistance. Ravindran explains that GM’s heightened focus on information technologies is part of the company’s long term plan to transform its business in order to support a future that will be increasingly electric, connected, autonomous and shared. “We’re entering into markets that encompass innovations such as completely autonomous vehicles, multi-modal urban transportation, and the growing sharing economy,” she says. “Expanding our ride- sharing infrastructure, for example, will allow more people to make use of something that would otherwise normally sit idle for eighty percent of the day.” Looking at the world around us, it’s not hard to spot the influence information technologies have on our daily lives. From the smartphones in our pockets, to the entertainment we consume and even the cars we drive, technology has evolved in a manner that transcends disciplines and impacts each and every one of us. This past September, as part of Carleton’s Throwback homecoming celebration, the Faculty of Engineering and Design hosted a special panel discussion with leaders of industry on the role information technologies play in redefining business. While the event highlighted how evolving technologies offer both opportunities and challenges for the future of industry, it also showcased how Carleton’s engineering graduates are in on the ground floor. Aerospace engineering alumna Gita Ravindran (BEng/01) focuses on evolving the relationship between technology and transportation at General Motors Canada. As a Technology Planning Manager, she is helping GM Canada work towards its goal of owning the customer relationship beyond the car. “With nearly 3 million Wi-Fi connected cars already on the road today, connectivity has become a key technology enabler,” she says. “GM now has more 4G LTE connected vehicles than any other auto maker, which will allow us to produce personalized vehicle features and enhanced experiences both inside and outside the car.” Before being hired by GM Canada in 2011, Ravindran spent nearly a decade working in robotics as a systems engineer at MDA Robotics and Automation, a role in which she supported the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and NASA by leading space exploration studies and the development of planetary rover prototypes. While ultimately shifting gears by joining GM Canada, she once again finds herself in an industry that is exploring uncharted territory. “The auto industry is undergoing a transformation unlike any other throughout its history,” she explains. “Disruptive technologies within the sector are enabling the growth of markets that had previously not existed.” This past June, GM Canada announced it would be expanding its engineering centre in Oshawa, Ontario, particularly in the areas of connected and autonomous vehicle engineering and software development. With many of today’s high-end vehicles having over 6 How the Rise of New Technologies is Enhancing, Transforming and Reinventing Business EVOLVING INDUSTRY: Gita Ravindran (BEng/01), Technology Planning Manager at General Motors Canada, displays GM’s all-new Chevrolet Bolt EV, an all-electric subcompact vehicle.