They are complex systems composed of dozens of interacting hardware and software components – from engine management to infotainment, each system has more and more software. As software is behind nearly every feature, vehicle function and safety depend heavily on the proper functioning of all the systems. To improve functionality, to remove bugs, and to increase security, those systems have to be updated regularly. This article aims to explain why and how software updates can help automotive functionality and safety, and what you as a driver need to know.
- Understanding Vehicle Software Systems
Modern automobiles are fitted with several electronic control units (ECUs), each designed to control specific functions and systems, from the engine and transmission to safety-related features such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) and traction control. Software controls the operation of the vehicle under various operating conditions. As vehicles become more connected and feature-rich, with growing capabilities enabled by elements of autonomous driving, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and connected services, the complexity and significance of this code has increased.
A car software update could be made available through a dealership on a routine service schedule, through a USB stick inserted into the car’s data port, or through over-the-air (OTA) updates directly to the car. Updates can include performance enhancements, new features and, in the case of what might be called ‘patch updates’, corrections to bugs and vulnerabilities.
- Enhancing Vehicle Functionality
Performance Improvements
Vehicle performance is one of the main reasons for regular software updates, in that automakers are continuously tweaking software to optimise their engine management, transmission behaviour and fuel efficiency. An over-the-air update could reprogramme the fuel injection timing or the transmission shift points, leading to smoother acceleration, greater fuel economy or more power.
Updates can also tune systems such as adaptive cruise control, or alter the behaviour of EVs to extend their battery life or to improve their charging, particularly in the case of vehicles that might benefit from a learning algorithm to identify the optimal times to sell their power back to the grid. Manufacturers might even want to provide updates to unlock new features that did not exist when the vehicle was first sold, such as enhancements to the driving modes, or improved regenerative braking automatically adopted by the EV.
New Features and Functionality
Software updates can also bring new functionality to a vehicle, like the pioneer of OTA updates, Tesla has famously expanded functionality such as self-parking, improvements to its Autopilot feature, and even entertaining features such as video streaming through software updates. This alone can easily provide benefit to ownership by keeping the vehicle updated with features years into its service life.
From this infotainment perspective, updates refresh the vehicle’s user interface, add support for the latest smartphone connectivity (such as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto), and add new apps or voice gesture control. The vehicle then ‘automagically’ remains up to date with all the current devices and services.
- Improving Safety
Critical Safety Updates
Safety is a paramount concern in the automotive industry, which is why automakers regularly create software updates to ensure their products operate as safely as possible. Those software updates are used to correct problems with the vehicle after it’s been released, such as issues with seatbelts and airbags, vehicle stability control, braking, and the increasing amount of ADAS features from lane-keeping assist to automatic braking and collision avoidance.
For example, if a manufacturer identifies an issue with the software that controls the car’s airbags, such as a flaw that might prevent them from deploying properly in a crash, it is possible to patch that problem with a software update so that it doesn’t result in an accident. In a similar way, an improvement in the software that controls the braking system might be installed so as to improve stopping distances, or it could be used to prevent undesirable situations where the brakes are applied when the driver does not intend this, again increasing the safety of the vehicle.
Cybersecurity Enhancements
But they also make the car vulnerable to cyber attacks: hackers could find ways to infiltrate the car’s software security model, exploiting a vulnerability to gain unauthorised control, potentially accessing safety systems or sensitive personal information. Automakers issue software updates on an ongoing basis to counter such security vulnerabilities – just like those for your smartphone or computer.
These cybersecurity upgrades keep the car secure in an environment in which bad actors continue to devise new ways to compromise vehicle and occupant safety.
- Challenges and Considerations
Compatibility and Bugs
But although software updates can be hugely beneficial to drivers, they can also be a pain. For example, an update for a latest-model car may not be fully compatible with an older car. A driver of a 2014 car, for example, cannot assume that the software update available for the 2023 Cruise Origin will work perfectly in their vehicle. It could cause unforeseen glitches or even run more slowly on older hardware. An automaker would need to do a lot of additional testing to verify that the same software works seamlessly across different models and configurations.
Bugs and unintended consequences present another challenge. Every time updates are pushed out, it’s possible that the changes could introduce problems elsewhere in the code thus offsetting other improvements. For instance, updates that optimise fuel economy could also cause rough idling or hesitation at acceleration, issues that will need to be quickly addressed on receipt of customer complaints.
Driver Awareness and Consent
The second is how driver awareness and consent will be handled. Convenience is a central advantage of OTA, but it also carries the risk that drivers will simply acquiesce to updates without fully understanding what they bring, or how they’ll change their car. Automakers have a responsibility to articulate exactly what each installation does, and to give drivers the opportunity to decide whether to approve or reject an update.
In some cases, drivers may refuse to allow updates to their vehicle. This could be because they are afraid that the updates may damage the vehicle or remove features that the driver likes. Skipping a critical safety fix is undesirable, however.
- The Future of Vehicle Software Updates
In the future, all vehicles will be increasingly dependent on software updates for ongoing operation and longevity. As autonomous vehicles continue to advance and are deployed more widely, routine software updates will be required for ongoing successful operation in a dynamic and ever-changing environment. Currently, connected vehicle technology is in a nascent phase of development, but future updates will be critical for additional evolution and improvement of in-vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications that further enhance safety and efficiency.
Manufacturers will likely develop even more sophisticated means of distributing updates, even while a vehicle is in operation, diminishing the need for the vehicle to be taken offline. All of these advances will make it easier to keep vehicles in peak operating condition, and to take advantage of new problems (and opportunities) as they arise.
Conclusion
The Impact of Software Updates on Vehicle Functionality and Safety is as well-equipped and secure as possible, which drives the need for further technological development. The more we understand the nature of the beast and resist the myths that surround digital software, the more likely we are to adapt to change. As long as motorists stay informed about the potential benefits and pitfalls of software updates, current and future cars will be safe and efficient. We all need to keep an eye on the road ahead.