Use of Over-the-Air (OTA) updates and software lifecycle management for the next-gen automotive and its application to Avionics
Alex Wilson
Director, Aerospace & Defence, Wind River
In the Automotive world, the importance of software and powerful electronic control units (ECUs) is rapidly increasing as OEMs develop advanced systems for next-generation vehicles. Car manufacturers are realising the numerous benefits of over-the-air (OTA) technology for multiple ECU updates, such as faster development and continuous software deployment cycles, post-production enhancements and reduced costs associated with feature-related recalls or fixes.
For Avionics systems, software updates are typically carried out during routine maintenance, with some systems still dependent on physical media such as floppy disks. However, as aircraft systems become more complex, and more dependent on software for functionality, the ability to rapidly update software systems becomes critical.
In particular, the discussion will address:
- The key Automotive OEM challenges and how they are utilizing OTA
- Lessons-learned from implementing a secure OTA solution
- New business opportunities arising from OTA and Software Lifecycle Management
- Differences in safety regulations between Automotive and Avionics
- Challenges for Avionics software updates, both technical and business focussed