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Linux For Cars: Tesla Isn't The Only Automaker Running Linux Under the Hood (zdnet.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the open-source-under-the-hood dept.

ZDNet reports that by 2020, "many, if not most, new cars will be running with Linux." While some companies, like Tesla, run their own homebrew Linux distros, most rely on Automotive Grade Linux (AGL). AGL is a collaborative cross-industry effort developing an open platform for connected cars with over 140 members... Its membership includes Audi, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Mercedes, Suzuki, and the world's biggest automobile company: Toyota. Why? "Automakers are becoming software companies, and just like in the tech industry, they are realizing that open source is the way forward," said Dan Cauchy, AGL's executive director, in a statement.

Car companies know that while horsepower sells, customers also want smart infotainment systems, automated safe drive features, and, eventually, self-driving cars. Linux and open-source company can give them all of that. The AGL's goal is to develop an open-source, common platform for infotainment systems: The Unified Code Base (UCB). This is a Linux distribution and open-source software platform for car infotainment, telematics, and instrument cluster applications... The AGL's hope is that this will serve as a de facto industry standard. It's well on its way.
Yesterday Hyundai announced that they were also joining both the AGL effort and the Linux Foundation.

38 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Am I still restricted? by SoundGuyNoise · · Score: 1

    Can my passengers connect their Bluetooth phones, or program the GPS while the car is in motion, or has the technology not reached that point yet?

    --
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    1. Re:Am I still restricted? by tsqr · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Can my passengers connect their Bluetooth phones, or program the GPS while the car is in motion, or has the technology not reached that point yet?

      The technology reached that point years ago, but auto makers haven't kept up. It would be pretty simple to detect that the driver has both hands on the steering wheel when the car is in motion, and enable those functions under that condition. Maybe they're worried that the driver would try to push the buttons with his nose.

    2. Re:Am I still restricted? by whoever57 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Can my passengers connect their Bluetooth phones, or program the GPS while the car is in motion,

      In my Tesla, programming the GPS while driving is simple:
      1. Press the scroll wheel button on the steering wheel.
      2. Say "Navigate to xyz".
      Done.

      --
      The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  2. The year of Linux on the ... by tsqr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    2020: the year of Linux on the desktop, err, I mean the roadways.

    1. Re:The year of Linux on the ... by Hognoxious · · Score: 2

      2021: the year you get it to boot (if it has systemd).

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    2. Re: The year of Linux on the ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Would you prefer Windows 10 updates while you're driving on the highway?

    3. Re:The year of Linux on the ... by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      He's saving that for a rainy day, it's his life savings. Have a heart.

    4. Re: The year of Linux on the ... by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      No, but I wouldn't mind it if my car ran MSDOS 6.

    5. Re: The year of Linux on the ... by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      I haven't had as much practice as you.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    6. Re: The year of Linux on the ... by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      Nope. You are just far too fucking stupid to learn.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    7. Re:The year of Linux on the ... by zwarte+piet · · Score: 1

      Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor not a system administrator.

  3. I doubt the fact that it's open source is a factor by Solandri · · Score: 1, Interesting

    The distinguishing factor is more likely that it's free. A single seat license for a VxWorks developer costs tens of thousands of dollars.

    I did get a chuckle when I was aboard a plane recently. The seat-back entertainment player in front of me crashed, and when it rebooted it came up with a Red Hat splash screen

  4. Could be worse by bobstreo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    could be Microsoft. I guess most automakers have given up on Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform.

    Are there any car manufacturers that makes a non-connected just plain, regular car currently?

    I'd prefer a standard transmission, maybe a couple USB ports, AC and no OnStar, No built-in cellular, no computers for anything more than controlling fuel injection...

    1. Re:Could be worse by Freshly+Exhumed · · Score: 1

      Are there any car manufacturers that makes a non-connected just plain, regular car currently?

      Check the JDM market if you can get registration and insurance for one of those where you live.

      --
      I deny that I have not avoided attaining the opposite of that which I do not want.
    2. Re:Could be worse by darthsilun · · Score: 1

      Are there any car manufacturers that makes a non-connected just plain, regular car currently?

      Check the JDM market if you can get registration and insurance for one of those where you live.

      If you're talking about America, you can only import 25 year old or older cars.
      If you want to drive a 1994 model year (or older) car you're all set. I suspect PP wants something a bit newer.

    3. Re:Could be worse by darthsilun · · Score: 2

      Are there any car manufacturers that makes a non-connected just plain, regular car currently?

      Federal law requires back-up cameras in new cars. Once you have a backup camera and a radio, you might as well have an Entertainment System. Once you have an Entertainment System you might as well have phone, and music from the phone. Designing five different "radios" isn't free, so they design one and use it in everything.

      I was driving a 2000 model year car until I traded it in last year for a new car. I didn't think I cared about all the features on the new car, but now that I have them, I kinda don't want to forego them. It's a slippery slope.

      And TBH, forty years ago I used to fantasize having many of those things on the cars I was driving then and thought they'd be cool to have.

    4. Re:Could be worse by bobstreo · · Score: 1

      Are there any car manufacturers that makes a non-connected just plain, regular car currently?

      Federal law requires back-up cameras in new cars. Once you have a backup camera and a radio, you might as well have an Entertainment System. Once you have an Entertainment System you might as well have phone, and music from the phone. Designing five different "radios" isn't free, so they design one and use it in everything.

      I was driving a 2000 model year car until I traded it in last year for a new car. I didn't think I cared about all the features on the new car, but now that I have them, I kinda don't want to forego them. It's a slippery slope.

      And TBH, forty years ago I used to fantasize having many of those things on the cars I was driving then and thought they'd be cool to have.

      40 years ago, I used to fantasize about having a semi air horn instead of a weak beep, and a BB machine gun mounted in the back of my car.

        I settled for replacing my cars AM radio with 'gasp' an AM/FM stereo cassette player and 4 speakers I had to manually cut out and install.

      I also added an alarm system. I hand soldered components onto with a breadboard I bought from some mail-order catalog. The insurance discount I got paid for it repeatedly.

    5. Re:Could be worse by quonset · · Score: 1

      I'd prefer a standard transmission, maybe a couple USB ports, AC and no OnStar, No built-in cellular, no computers for anything more than controlling fuel injection...

      My 2010 Hyundai Elantra is exactly that. Drives like a dream once I got better tires put on. Also gets better city mileage than what the manufacturer says it should.

      Don't know about the newer Hyundais. Most likely they have a screen in place of the center console so no real buttons or knobs like mine has.

    6. Re:Could be worse by burningcpu · · Score: 2

      Some base models remain free of this junk. I bought a 2013 Nissan Versa S, the $12k model with manual windows, manual locks, manual transmission and a regular CD deck. A regular key starts it and I understand the engine bay.

      I later added tech that I wanted, where I wanted.

    7. Re:Could be worse by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      Federal law requires back-up cameras in new cars.

      Truly the land of freedom. And if I put tape over the lenses. I assume the car will refuse to start, because : safety. That'll be a popular sport in parking lots.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    8. Re:Could be worse by darthsilun · · Score: 1

      Federal law requires back-up cameras in new cars.

      Truly the land of freedom. And if I put tape over the lenses. I assume the car will refuse to start, because : safety. That'll be a popular sport in parking lots.

      I'll wager you probably took the seat belts out of your car too.
      And when you were in an accident and hit your head on the dashboard or windshield, and went to the ER but didn't have health coverage the hospital treated you anyway
      And charged my insurance company more to cover their increased costs. And then my insurance company charged me more to cover their increased costs.
      The next time I see you I'm going to punch you in the nose. I figure I already paid for it.
      And that'll be Freedom too, because we don't need no stinking personal liability here in the Land of the Free. Just tough dudes who step up and take responsibility for their actions.

  5. ECU firmware developer here. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I write the firmware for several different classes of ECUs. While I don't dispute that Linux is useful in infotainment (an area of automotive software I've never worked on). Areas like autonomous driving and drive assist aren't going to be Linux. Even real-time linux is a bit too heavy handed for something so timing critical. The argument of faster CPUs isn't really an issue. It's more about interrupt latency, TLB misses, and other fundamental design choices that make Linux unsuitable for hard real-time applications.

    Most automotive software either uses a very tight executive style RTOS (like WindStart from WRS) or something akin to VxWorks. Personally, it's a shame eCos (an embedded RTOS) never took off; or RTEMS.

    1. Re: ECU firmware developer here. by m5shiv · · Score: 1

      This.

  6. QNX in the car biz a non-tech failure? by Freshly+Exhumed · · Score: 2

    When Blackberry purchased QNX, they intended that the auto industry would be fertile new soil for that terrific real time OS. Years later, the rise of Automotive Grade Linux seems to indicate that the QNX platform has had some sort of impediments that are likely non-technical, perhaps to do with licensing?

    --
    I deny that I have not avoided attaining the opposite of that which I do not want.
    1. Re:QNX in the car biz a non-tech failure? by Aighearach · · Score: 2

      Great idea for 1996, but these days you don't really want to use a realtime OS for an infotainment system. The more throughput, the better the frame rate, the latency isn't an issue.

      Plus with Linux you get a lot of free drivers. Manufacturers want to be able to squeeze everything for savings, so you needs lots of drivers. When a new cheaper IC comes out, you want to be able to use it. They're basically taking over the "car stereo" market as an industry, so they all benefit by working together.

    2. Re:QNX in the car biz a non-tech failure? by ArhcAngel · · Score: 1

      QNX is currently installed in over 50% of all vehicles produced today. If you want Apple CarPlay or Android Auto there aren't any other good options. And if you want secure AGL is still decades away from the security built in to QNX.I welcome competition as it drives innovation. But it will be a while before AGL can compete with QNX.

      --
      "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
    3. Re: QNX in the car biz a non-tech failure? by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure where you got the idea that Linux isn't an RTOS, but it can absolutely be an RTOS.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    4. Re:QNX in the car biz a non-tech failure? by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      For that you don't want a full OS, you want something smaller like MbedOS.

      You're going to do a lot of the work in interrupts though. Any full-size OS is going to have its own ideas about using interrupts, so you don't want to go there on critical systems.

  7. Chrysler's uconnect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I took apart one of the upgrade images and that appears to be using Linux as well. I suspect there is some Android down inside there for the apps half.

  8. Re: It makes sense by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

    Far more risky trying to fire up the sat nav via the command line though

  9. Re: And the desktop? by cyber-vandal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It hasn't failed as such. It's very difficult to compete with an entrenched monopoly.

  10. I disagree by gargalatas · · Score: 1

    There will always exist idiots that will think that their system is better. Think for example what happened in the mobile phone industry.

  11. No US car makers? by bunyip · · Score: 1

    I took a look at the website, I find it interesting that Ford / GM / Chrysler are not members. Perhaps each has decided that they can go it alone?

  12. Re: It makes sense by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

    I'm quite familiar with Linux but you are clearly not familiar with sarcasm

  13. customers also want ... by NikeHerc · · Score: 1

    From the summary: "Car companies know that while horsepower sells, customers also want smart infotainment systems, automated safe drive features, and, eventually, self-driving cars. Linux and open-source company can give them all of that."

    No, you are insane. Many of us don't give a rat's ass about any of that crap. I want a car that never breaks down if properly maintained, gets excellent gas mileage, and isn't expensive to maintain.

    --
    Circle the wagons and fire inward. Entropy increases without bounds.
  14. Re:No no no no NO. by unixisc · · Score: 1

    Not just that, I want a car that I can get into should the battery on my car remote die (like for instance, the good old fashioned keyed entry). Or being able to access my hood should the battery die (I can on my Subaru, but wouldn't be able to on a Tesla).

    As for the tech, what I have on my 2014 Crosstrek is good enough: a built in navigation unit (okay, ability to connect to CarPlay/Android Auto would be nice), steering wheel controls of stations and volume, rear camera whenever I reverse, and that's about it! I don't need my car to drive itself

  15. Re:I Like Linux... but by unixisc · · Score: 1

    Minix sounds like it would be a better option, w/ its reincarnation server and its microkernel which is designed to be fault tolerant

  16. Not So Much Linux by Thelasko · · Score: 1

    Looking through the Honda system, I noticed it's Android based. I think Android is a major enabler for Linux domination, as automakers don't have to start with a bare kernel.

    --
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