Even if the software is good, you can’t be sure the software is configured correctly, not 100% of the time. Machines near people have to be physically limited in their capabilities.
Depending where you live, generally cars are mechanically scrutinised—whether as much as annualy or as title as transfer of ownership or registration. Your local mechanic can do this and tick all the safety boxes.
Who’s doing that for the machine within?
Like, Bob’s Auto down the road can spot busted brake calipers in a second. I doubt they have software engineers as well.
There’s three options I can think of there…
Manufacturer does it as an income source
Software has self-diagnostics and we just accept that they are also 100% good
Car software is a massive issue in many regards. Traditionally they’ve been terrible at it, many outsource to small outfits and the end product tends to be crap. Kind of like TVs, the software is bloated and the hardware (CPU and memory) is cheap. But all of it is proprietary, meaning you can’t reprogram them, and this is mandated by law in some parts such as engine management.
There is diagnostics, though, and some of it is standardised and has been for decades. Other parts are proprietary, but it is possible to gain access to some of it. Technology Connections just started a series on car stuff, and it starts with how the Engine Management Unit (or whatever Nissan call their car computer) handles the fuel injection mixture to continuously oscillate between rich and lean and ensure proper catalytic conversion of the exhaust while also monitoring the condition of the catalyst.
So yeah, you can maybe see why some of it should be locked down and difficult to interfere with, and why laws mandate this. If cars are supposed to meet emissions requirements, you have to ensure that somehow.
Unfortunately there aren’t as many laws requiring car manufacturers to open up other things in their software.
Bob’s Autos would probably have some sort of OBD tool for whatever vehicles he expected to work on. Car mechanics either keep up with the industry (and pay for access to some things) or they go out of business. And the cost is ultimately passed on to the customer.
Damn. This is good point.
I’m thinking cars with this…
Depending where you live, generally cars are mechanically scrutinised—whether as much as annualy or as title as transfer of ownership or registration. Your local mechanic can do this and tick all the safety boxes.
Who’s doing that for the machine within?
Like, Bob’s Auto down the road can spot busted brake calipers in a second. I doubt they have software engineers as well.
There’s three options I can think of there…
Car software is a massive issue in many regards. Traditionally they’ve been terrible at it, many outsource to small outfits and the end product tends to be crap. Kind of like TVs, the software is bloated and the hardware (CPU and memory) is cheap. But all of it is proprietary, meaning you can’t reprogram them, and this is mandated by law in some parts such as engine management.
There is diagnostics, though, and some of it is standardised and has been for decades. Other parts are proprietary, but it is possible to gain access to some of it. Technology Connections just started a series on car stuff, and it starts with how the Engine Management Unit (or whatever Nissan call their car computer) handles the fuel injection mixture to continuously oscillate between rich and lean and ensure proper catalytic conversion of the exhaust while also monitoring the condition of the catalyst.
So yeah, you can maybe see why some of it should be locked down and difficult to interfere with, and why laws mandate this. If cars are supposed to meet emissions requirements, you have to ensure that somehow.
Unfortunately there aren’t as many laws requiring car manufacturers to open up other things in their software.
Bob’s Autos would probably have some sort of OBD tool for whatever vehicles he expected to work on. Car mechanics either keep up with the industry (and pay for access to some things) or they go out of business. And the cost is ultimately passed on to the customer.