// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Personal Car Communicator say? "You're driven to talk.
A Personal Car Communicator (PCC) is a remote-control key fob system developed by Volvo Cars to provide information about a vehicle's lock and alarm status.[1] The system was introduced as a security feature on the second-generation Volvo S80, and Volvo stated that it was also available as an option on the V70 and XC70.[1]
Background
[edit]Volvo had previously presented a related system, the Volvo Personal Communicator (VPC), as part of its safety technology development.[2] The VPC concept used two-way communication between the car and a remote control unit and included functions such as passive unlocking, personal settings and a heartbeat sensor intended to warn if someone was inside the vehicle.[2]
The production Personal Car Communicator was promoted with the all-new Volvo S80.[3] Volvo described the PCC as an optional pocket-sized remote control that could provide information about whether the car was locked, whether the alarm had been triggered, and whether somebody might be inside the vehicle.[3]
Operation
[edit]The PCC uses two-way communication between the car and the remote key.[1] When the owner presses the information button, the remote key can display the vehicle's lock and alarm status through indicator lights.[1] Volvo stated that the PCC could provide status information at a range of up to about 100 m, and could retain the most recent information when the owner was outside the communication range.[1]
The system uses different indicator lights to show vehicle status. A green light indicates that the car is locked and that nothing abnormal has occurred, a yellow light indicates that the car is unlocked, and a red light indicates that the alarm has been activated.[1] Two flashing red lights indicate that a person may be present in the car.[1] Contemporary coverage by Wired described the PCC as providing lock, alarm and intruder-status information at a range of about 60 to 100 m, using a heartbeat sensor to help detect whether someone was inside the vehicle.[4]
Availability and recognition
[edit]Volvo stated in 2007 that the PCC was available as an option on the all-new Volvo S80, V70 and XC70.[1] The system received the Innovation Award at the 2007 British Insurance Car Security Awards, announced at Thatcham, the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre.[1] A syndicated version of Volvo's 2007 announcement was also carried by Cision, giving an additional archived source for the award announcement.[5]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Volvo Cars' unique Personal Car Communicator (PCC) has won the Innovation award at the 2007 British Insurance Car Security Awards". Volvo Cars Media. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Volvo Personal Communicator (VPC)". Volvo Cars Media. 11 November 2001. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Volvo S80 helps to ease security worries". Volvo Owners' Club. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Ansaldo, Mike (6 June 2007). "Safety is Key with Volvo's Personal Car Communicator". Wired. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ↑ "Volvo Cars' unique Personal Car Communicator (PCC) has won the Innovation award at the 2007". Cision News. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2026.