Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Automakers Move Toward OTA Software Upgrades

Posted by Soulskill on from the granted-features-like-a-wizard dept.

Lucas123 writes: While some carmakers today offer over-the-air software upgrades to navigation maps and infotainment head units, Tesla became the first last week to perform a powertrain upgrade overnight. But as the industry begins adopting internal vehicle bus standards with greater bandwidth and more robust security, experts believe vehicle owners will no longer be required to visit dealerships or perform downloads to USB sticks. IHS predicts that in the next three to five years, most, if not all automakers, will offer fully fledged OTA software-enabled platforms that encompass upgrades to every vehicle system — from infotainment, safety, comfort, and powertrain. First, however, carmakers must deploy more open OS platforms, remove hardened firewalls between vehicle ECUs, and deploy networking topologies such as Ethernet, with proven security.

6 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. "remove hardened firewalls between vehicle ECUs" by SoCalChris · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What could possibly go wrong?

  2. Will they be cut off after 6mo-1year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Will they be cut off after 6mo-1year
    and they want the new update BUY A NEW CAR.

    I hope auto drive systems have at least 5 years of updates at no added cost.

  3. Re:"remove hardened firewalls between vehicle ECUs by zidium · · Score: 5, Funny

    Worst case? The only ship to survive will be the one without wifi! (Battlestar Galactica)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    --
    Slashdot Valentines Beta Massacre: iT WORKED! The boycotts killed Beta!!
  4. Re:I think we need some serious open source effort by sinij · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I ignored it as I knew from past experience, that this car had no major problems.

    I am with you, the other day I was patching mission-critical server when I noticed SMART errors. I ignored it, as I know from past experiences that this server had no major problems.

    At some point, at above 90% load the server started random kernel panics. Any lower load than that would be without any problems. I decided to have sysadmin check it out. He wanted $480 for a new hard disk. Without fixing, this "server would permanently lose data one day" he said.

    Well, stubborn as I am, I ignored his advice. I added couple months on it without any problems at all. When it kernel panics, I would just reboot it...At one time, I thought my reset button may be dirty - it wasn't.

  5. Re:I think we need some serious open source effort by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why bother with that when he can shift into neutral at 10 mph over the speed limit and redline it. He knows better than anyone else.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  6. BS by stooo · · Score: 5, Informative

    >> What could possibly go wrong?
    Nothing. There are hardly any firewalls between ECUs. Firewalls do not exist on CAN.
    The article is written by someone with no insight in car architecture :

    >> First, however, carmakers must deploy more open OS platforms
    Nothing to do with the reflashing

    >> remove hardened firewalls between vehicle ECUs
    There aren't any firewalls

    >> and deploy networking topologies such as Ethernet, with proven security.
    Ethernet is already widely deployed in cars for data hungry applications ( infotainment) For other uses, ethernet is absolutely not suitable ( price, power, wiring constraints, EMC, safety, .....)

    --
    aaaaaaa