In what looks like more bad news for the traditional mainframe makers, General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler Corp have formed a Supercomputer Automotive Applications Partnership to collaborate on development of high-performance computers to advance current technology. The aim is to improve technology currently in use by both domestic and foreign automakers and create a clear competitive advantage for the US in automotive applications for parallel supercomputers. The computer partnership is the United States Council for Automotive Research’s 12th research consortium. The new group will design portable software for high-performance parallel computers used by automotive design engineers. According to Associated Press, five Department of Energy laboratories and the University of Michigan have been asked to take part in the initial phases of the programme.
