Automotive Over-The-Air
Automotive Over-The-Air (Automotive OTA) is changing the industry. In particular, applications such as software updates, live diagnostics and data collection already promise not only enormous savings potential but also enable many new opportunities to increase customer loyalty. Further applications will follow for sure. However, the challenges and efforts involved in introducing such Automotive OTA solutions are considerable. A good integration into existing processes is crucial for successful Automotive OTA projects.
Key Use Cases
Today, most of the recall campaigns are software related. And the amount of software used in vehicles is still rising rapidly. Software updates over the air offer a tremendous potential for cost savings by avoiding these recalls. Functional and security issues can be fixed remotely. OTA software updates also provide the opportunity to implement new business models with for instance new features installed on demand, after the vehicle has been delivered.
Offer remote assistance from central vehicle support centers. A recommendation can be given if it is sensible to continue the drive to next workshop or not. In production, live diagnostics can be used to perform the final end of line tests without having to mechanically connect to the vehicle. In the workshop, diagnostic applications running on a central backend can enhance today’s diagnostic testers.
Collecting dynamically defined data from a fleet of vehicles helps you to gain new insights as needed. Additional value can be created by applying statistic methods, machine learning or big data analytics on such collected data. For example, early feedback loops can be implemented to monitor e.g. the launch of a new model series. Predictive maintenance is possible by collecting data indicating an imminent damage and new services can be offered based on vehicle data.
Success Factors
Security & Privacy
- Only authorized and verified data shall be flashed by authorized persons.
- Only authorized entities shall be able to collect data from a vehicle.
- Only authenticated and authorized users should be a able to diagnose a vehicle.
Robustness
- Reprogramming of a vehicle shall never fail due to remote communication issues.
- Reprogramming has to be fail safe, rollback strategies are needed in case of problems.
- Updates have to be reliable, the system must detect whether vehicles missed an update.
Efficiency
- The footprint of OTA components in the vehicle should be small (network and ECUs).
- Data Collection should use resources of vehicle, backend and connection economically.
- Live Diagnostics should not impose high requirements on the connection.
Responsiveness
- Live Diagnostics via OTA should be almost as responsive as a local tester.
vConnect
The Vector Automotive OTA Solution
Keep in touch with your vehicle fleet. Build new business models. Use live data to build knowledge. Overdeliver on expectations.
With vConnect you can explore new opportunities and realize your ideas easily and end-to-end secure.
MICROSAR.OTA
Basic Software Modules for AUTOSAR Classic ECUs
Use basic software modules for efficient processing, saving and activating software updates for your controllers. Flexible configuration of the modules enables you to choose from various strategies to update the software on an ECU.
MICROSAR.OTA provides you with a solution that goes beyond the AUTOSAR Classic standard.
Technical Article
Mastering Automotive OTA: High-Performance Computing Platforms in the Automobile
Automotive and IT Domains are Converging
Over-the-air application cases such as software updates, live diagnostics and data collection promise enormous savings potentials for automotive OEMs and offer new opportunities for bolstering customer loyalty. However, the required ef-fort is huge. One crucial factor in successfully handling the task is good integration into the existing process world.
Deep Dive
Not enough yet?
Tune in to our YouTube playlist of presentations about OTA from the first Vector Automotive Connectivity Symposium 2019.