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I've long wondered why no car manufacturer has gone for an open source model. Certain things should absolutely be locked down (for example, the airbags and oth
by Hobadee 1y ago
I've long wondered why no car manufacturer has gone for an open source model. Certain things should absolutely be locked down (for example, the airbags and other critical safety features) but there is absolutely no reason the HVAC and Infotainment system need to be closed source. Open it up and let hackers go crazy, then just "borrow" the best options out there for next year's model and everyone wins!
- hengheng 1y agoI have been wondering the same, but slightly differently. Tier 1 suppliers have enough resources in both know-how and manpower that I have been wondering if they could do a platform car. Provide a basic frame that passes crash, provide a basic engine that passes emissions, provide basic safety, etcetera. Then invite other parties to upgrade components. Package lots of air between components to simplify compatibility. I suppose the only way to get this going in the real world is a big military contract, but I am wondering if it wouldn't be smart play for everyone involved. It would be deadly for a bunch of traditional automakers, but they can't do anything preventing it.
- ghaff 1y agoAutomotive-grade Linux is actually a pretty big thing but cars being put on the roads still need to pass through approvals. It's not "hackers" doing anything they feel like.
- avidiax 1y agoThere could be a sort of "ARM" or "Android" but for cars. Come up with few general hardware modules, enough to replace the head unit, body controllers, ECU, climate control, and ideally driving automation, and software to run them. Everything minus safety modules like the airbag controllers, and then license them under Fair/non-discriminatory terms. Then, a variety of automakers get access to core functionality and cheaper hardware to run it. That means that the cars themselves can have higher quality software, cheaper hardware (from cutting out companies like Bosch that charge exorbitantly for things like a windshield wiper controller), and thus deliver more value to customers.
- deergomoo 1y ago> "Android" but for cars. Is this not just Android Automotive? A lot of Volvos use it, it’s a lower-level OS type thing that sits below Android Auto or CarPlay.
- avidiax 1y agoAndroid Automative, so far as I understand, is basically a head unit. I don't think it does all the body controllers, self-driving, etc.
- davidmurdoch 1y agoRelated plea from someone how hacked their Hyundai's head unit: https://programmingwithstyle.com/posts/howihackedmycarpart5/#a-little-message-to-hyundaimobis https://programmingwithstyle.com/posts/howihackedmycarpart5/... And past HN discussion https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32447650 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32447650
- pabs3 1y agoApparently there are folks working on converting ICE vehicles to EV, using open source and reverse engineering to integrate discarded proprietary EV components (battery, motor, inverter etc). https://openinverter.org/ https://openinverter.org/ https://youtube.com/@evbmw https://youtube.com/@evbmw https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43898280 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43898280
- vv_ 1y agoBecause there are regulations for the infotainment system as well. For example, you can't watch videos or read SMS/messages. Not to mention that the infotainment system likely has access to the CAN bus, through which you _could_ impact other safety systems.
- frollogaston 1y agoDoesn't the OBD2 port give me the same CAN access? I just bought one of those generic adapters and was going to mess around with it.
- vv_ 1y agoThe OBD2 port is behind a gateway so it is not the same.