Technology could speed up repairs, save time and money for motorists and makers alike.
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.
But unlike a traditional upgrade, Tesla owners won’t be required to visit one of the battery-carmaker’s showrooms. Instead, they’ll 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’s time to update their operating systems.
“Tesla is changing the game,” said Roger Ordman, the marketing director at RedBend, and Israeli subsidiary of Harman International, that has become a leader in the development of over-the-air update technology. “The need for OTA is as big as the need for advanced driver technologies.”
Wireless updates are commonplace in the computer and smartphone world. It’s 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.
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.
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.
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 “were software-related,” according to Ordman, and as more technology comes onboard, he added, “I don’t believe (that number) is going to go any lower.”
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’s USB port at the dealership. Over-the-air systems would slash those costs.
“It is clear that OEM (original equipment manufacturers) cost savings from over-the-air software updates will be the most valuable part of this technology — by far,” 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.
Over-the-air technologies aren’t limited to updating software. General Motors’ 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.
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’ll get a remote alert and even be able to schedule a service appointment without leaving the vehicle.
Read more of the original article at The Detroit Bureau.
