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People still want regular map updates, live updating traffic information, and play back stuff from their phone on the in-car entertainment system. All this expo

by est31 6y ago

People still want regular map updates, live updating traffic information, and play back stuff from their phone on the in-car entertainment system. All this exposes cars to data communication outside of the car repair shop. Yes, the entertainment system is different from the system that runs the car, but there is some level of communication between the two.

tsimionescu 6y ago
There is some level of communication, but there really shouldn't be.
- Silhouette 6y ago
  The problem is that total separation is difficult to achieve with the requirements being placed on these vehicles. Sure, whatever is playing your favourite music tracks over the speakers probably doesn't need to know anything about steering and acceleration. However, your self-driving software is going to have a tough time getting your car to a location it doesn't know exists because its onboard navigation maps predate the existence of that building, or planning a route that avoids an accident it doesn't know about because it has no real-time information about road closures.
  - tsimionescu 6y ago
    As others have pointed out, self driving software is inherently unsafe at this moment - we don't know how to make safe network-connected software yet. Anyway, this is moot in most cars, as they don't have sold driving software anyway.
    - Silhouette 6y ago
      If you read my comments elsewhere in this discussion, you'll see that I've been one of those people. In this thread, I'm simply observing that there can't be a clear separation between control systems and information systems if we're going to achieve these kinds of autonomous functionality. We need a more nuanced solution.
Silhouette 6y ago
Yes, the entertainment system is different from the system that runs the car, but there is some level of communication between the two. I think you've just identified the root cause of at least one set of problems. The essential control systems in a vehicle should ideally be separated from other vehicle functions to prevent interference, whether accidental or deliberate, from compromising vehicle safety. The approach now being taken by manufacturers with their always-online, increasingly automated cars may be undermining that separation, without necessarily having adequate safeguards in place to ensure safety and reliability are maintained.

by est31 6y ago

tsimionescu 6y ago

There is some level of communication, but there really shouldn't be.

Silhouette 6y ago
The problem is that total separation is difficult to achieve with the requirements being placed on these vehicles. Sure, whatever is playing your favourite music tracks over the speakers probably doesn't need to know anything about steering and acceleration. However, your self-driving software is going to have a tough time getting your car to a location it doesn't know exists because its onboard navigation maps predate the existence of that building, or planning a route that avoids an accident it doesn't know about because it has no real-time information about road closures.
- tsimionescu 6y ago
  As others have pointed out, self driving software is inherently unsafe at this moment - we don't know how to make safe network-connected software yet. Anyway, this is moot in most cars, as they don't have sold driving software anyway.
  - Silhouette 6y ago
    If you read my comments elsewhere in this discussion, you'll see that I've been one of those people. In this thread, I'm simply observing that there can't be a clear separation between control systems and information systems if we're going to achieve these kinds of autonomous functionality. We need a more nuanced solution.

Silhouette 6y ago

Yes, the entertainment system is different from the system that runs the car, but there is some level of communication between the two. I think you've just identified the root cause of at least one set of problems. The essential control systems in a vehicle should ideally be separated from other vehicle functions to prevent interference, whether accidental or deliberate, from compromising vehicle safety. The approach now being taken by manufacturers with their always-online, increasingly automated cars may be undermining that separation, without necessarily having adequate safeguards in place to ensure safety and reliability are maintained.