Archive for the ‘DySCAS’ tag
Upgrading Your Car
You won't want to buy a new Lambhorgini until it comes packaged with the DySCAS architecture.
No, I don’t mean buying a new BMW or Ferrari (although, for the environmentally inclined, I do suggest investing in a hybrid). Thanks to the EU-funded DySCAS Project and its researchers, “upgrading your car” might refer to upgrading the car’s software rather than its engine. Developed for over two and a half years, this new technology could revolutionize the automotive industry. The motivation of this project was to allow cars to keep up with the times. Because an owner generally uses a car for about ten years, the DySCAS Project will allow cars to update software through the internet and avoid becoming digitally obsolete. With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, even a car’s onboard software can be left in the dust without proper updates. Old media formats for the entertainment system and outdated maps for the navigation system are just two examples of this.
“Cars take many years to develop and most are designed to be on the road for perhaps a decade. In that time, technology can change a lot, but currently there is no efficient way to update the software in these vehicles”
In addition to keeping up to date files on hand, there are other plans to allow communication and syncing of different media devices, such as PDAs and cell phones, to the car’s system.
While the first step in this project is to update non-critical systems only, eventually, the plan is to release patches which might influence safety mechanisms such as automatic braking and engine timing. It wouldn’t be hard to envision changes to the braking system’s software in order to maximize fuel economy or backup safety protocols for the driver in case one set malfunctions. These are all parts of a plan to deploy a dynamically reconfiguration system which assesses real-time data and makes proper adjustments to the car itself. However, implementing these new features is still a far way off. For now, the researchers have created a static architecture called AUTOSAR, which will hopefully be the prototype for a more dynamic, upgradable architecture in the future.
For me, this new innovation demonstates another example on how technology can help save lives. Obviously, any technology influencing the performance of a car must be thoroughly tested (virtual test dummies anyone?), but iterative testing and releases of progressively safer software can curb automotive related deaths significantly. I adamantly believe the more we incorporate technology into our everyday lives, the more good will come from it.
