SAE International Analysis of Software Update in Connected Vehicles 2014-01-0256

The substantial increase of electronic systems and processors in vehicles is increasing the already remarkable amount of software code, generating thousands of software-related recalls according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), leading to frequent customer updates. Current software updating methods are inconvenient for customers and dealers alike, requiring a significant amount of time and expensive hardware to implement. With Wi-Fi technology and embedded modems entering vehicles, several OEMs have already taken an innovative approach with Over-The-Air (OTA) technology. OTA updating has shown to be a proven method in the telecom industry with tens of millions of phones equipped with OTA capabilities and millions of successful OTA updates performed each year, contributing to a reliable and efficient method of updating. This paper analyzes the different ways OTA is currently being used to successfully achieve in-vehicle software updates. This paper also presents the results of a questionnaire conducted to assess the familiarity and acceptance of software update technologies. This paper concludes with an analysis of the questionnaire results and the authors' preferred implementation method of OTA based on the research.