Lynk Smart Car Adapter

The legacy problem

With the evolution of automotive architecture over the decades, automotive OEMs are suffering from the legacy of their own platform architecture and their lack of connectivity. In turn, it is the end-customer who suffers. Automotive OEMs have all developed proprietary, modularly designed architectures to enable car functionalities through a high number of individual modules (infotainment unit, communication, powertrain, chassis, thermal systems, fuel systems, etc.).

With each system, the complexity grows with a multitude of control units each running on different protocols. Automotive OEMs would need to heavily invest in modernising, connecting and simplifying their software architecture to enable any future innovation.

Bridging the gap

Connectivity and automation can enable a myriad of interconnected new functionalities, services, and business models, offering enormous growth potential into new areas for automotive industry incumbents and newcomers.

“Lynk was designed to bridge the technology gap and generational divide between old and new vehicles.”

Lynk is an internet connected OBD interpreter designed to provide bi-directional half-duplex communication with the vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostic Systems to the LYNK platform.

In short, Lynk turns your existing car into a smart car and gives you access to a wealth of vehicle information and functionalities accessible through your smartphone.

Connected and powered through the industry standardised Data Link Connector located under the dash in the drivers side footwell, Lynk consists of a sixteen pin J1962 diagnostic connector used for communication with ECU. It interfaces with the vehicle to allow access to the on-board diagnostics and live data streams.

How we helped

Cultivate set out to understand the technical feasibility of the device and build a functional instance of a product to test assumptions. Our objective was to ultimately prove the technical feasibility of the product.

We created the brand and hardware that enabled Lynk to operate as a functional prototype and working proof of concept. It is one of the many things that we can do at Cultivate for early stage founders or innovation teams in organisations.

If you have a product or business idea that you’re unsure of in terms of desirability, feasibility or viability - let’s chat!