{"id":109315,"date":"2016-09-06T16:04:30","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T20:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=109315"},"modified":"2016-09-06T16:04:30","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T20:04:30","slug":"your-next-car-could-be-updated-just-like-a-smartphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2016\/09\/your-next-car-could-be-updated-just-like-a-smartphone\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Next Car Could Be Updated Just Like a Smartphone"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Some vehicles are already being updated the same way as that smartphone - over the air.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stung by a fatal crash that has raised serious concerns about its semi-autonomous Autopilot system, Tesla plans to announce a major update for the technology in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

But unlike a traditional upgrade, Tesla owners won\u2019t be required to visit one of the battery-carmaker\u2019s showrooms. Instead, they\u2019ll have the revised software beamed to their vehicles, much as smartphone makers like Apple use so-called over-the-air, or OTA, technology when it\u2019s time to update their operating systems.<\/p>\n

\u201cTesla is changing the game,\u201d said Roger Ordman, the marketing director at RedBend, and Israeli subsidiary of Harman International, \u00a0that has become a leader in the development of over-the-air update technology. \u201cThe need for OTA is as big as the need for advanced driver technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tech News!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wireless updates are commonplace in the computer and smartphone world. It\u2019s the method of choice for distributing everything from anti-virus updates to the latest operating system revisions. But the technology is just beginning to be accepted by automotive manufacturers.<\/p>\n

(For more on Tesla’s Autopilot upgrade, <\/em>Click Here<\/span><\/a>.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>When Lincoln experienced problems with the Sync infotainment system on the then-new MKZ system several years ago, it offered owners a thumb drive containing updated software. Less tech-savvy customers were told to bring their vehicles into the service shop, a costly process as Lincoln had to reimburse dealers for their time.<\/p>\n

For customers, the use of wireless technology could eliminate the need for some service calls, especially at a time when the number of safety-related recalls has been rising. Some of those could be solved using over-the-air updates, especially as vehicles become more high-tech.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tesla already relies on over-the-air updates for the Models S and X.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While consumers could benefit by not having to visit showrooms, OTA technology could pay off for manufacturers, as well. RedBend estimates that about 6.4% of the recalls ordered in the U.S. last year \u201cwere software-related,\u201d according to Ordman, and as more technology comes onboard, he added, \u201cI don\u2019t believe (that number) is going to go any lower.\u201d<\/p>\n

At an average $82 per vehicle, those recalls cost the industry about $440 million to resolve, often simply by plugging a memory stick into a vehicle\u2019s USB port at the dealership. Over-the-air systems would slash those costs.<\/p>\n

(Israel breeding generation of high-tech entrepreneurs. <\/em>Click Here<\/span><\/a> for the story.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is clear that OEM (original equipment manufacturers) cost savings from over-the-air software updates will be the most valuable part of this technology \u2014 by far,\u201d said Egil Juliussen, a principal analyst of automotive technology at IHS Automotive, and a co-author of a study on the technology released late last year.<\/p>\n

Over-the-air technologies aren\u2019t limited to updating software. General Motors\u2019 OnStar subsidiary has used wireless systems to allow motorists to remotely unlock their doors, for example, and the technology can be used to remotely alert first-responders in the event of a serious crash.<\/p>\n

GM is readying a new service that will monitor critical vehicle functions and send that data to the cloud for analysis. Running low on oil? Your water pump starting to fail? You\u2019ll get a remote alert and even be able to schedule a service appointment without leaving the vehicle.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Last year, security experts managed to hack into a Jeep Cherokee and remotely drive it into a ditch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A number of manufacturers have paired over-the-air technologies with smartphone apps. Nissan Leaf owners can remotely check the state of their vehicle\u2019s battery and remotely start charging. But Nissan had to temporarily disable the service when it learned the technology was vulnerable to a cyberattack.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t make the mistake of not designing in cybersecurity protection,\u201d when adding new technology to vehicles, including over-the-air update capabilities, cautioned Assistant U.S. Attorney General John Carlin, one of the keynote speakers at a cybersecurity conference held in Detroit in July.<\/p>\n

Part of the problem is that today\u2019s vehicles are not only loaded with high-tech safety, comfort and performance systems, but plenty of new avenues by which hackers can gain access, including new 4G LTE WiFi systems built into many new models.<\/p>\n

Hackers are looking to exploit \u201cpotentially every channel on the vehicle that provides access to services or maintenance,\u201d warned Saar Dickman, CEO of TowerSec, an Israeli cybersecurity company that works with a number of automakers.<\/p>\n

Despite such concerns, over-the-air technology is expected to become commonplace on tomorrow\u2019s vehicles, consulting firm ABI Research estimating it will be found on at least 200 million vehicles around the world by 2022.<\/p>\n

(Fiat Chrysler issues “bug bounty” to reduce cybersecurity risks. <\/em>Click Here<\/span><\/a> for the story.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tesla soon plans to update its controversial Autopilot system – but owners won’t have to visit a Tesla service bay. They’ll get upgrades over the air. And Tesla isn’t alone. Already a fixture for smartphones, more than 200 mil vehicles could soon be regularly getting over-the-air updates, reports TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":48503,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[151],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109315"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109315"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=109315"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=109315"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=109315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}