Open-source software shapes the future of autonomous vehicles' development and functionality.
In the rapidly evolving world of automotive technology, safety and security are paramount. This is why Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are now required to provide solutions that adhere to high standards of safety and security in the automotive space.
The amount of software in a car today exceeds that of most applications, with the possible exception of military aircraft. Given this complexity, managing the fleet-management software stacks efficiently has become a significant challenge. To address this, a new concept, SDV.Ops, has been introduced, providing cloud support for handling these intricate software stacks.
Recognising the importance of a solid, certified software foundation, the Eclipse SDV Working Group has been established to provide an open-source platform for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This group encompasses everything from the runtime to application development, ensuring a comprehensive approach to SDV software.
The Eclipse SDV Working Group's focus expands beyond SDV.Ops to include SDV.Edge, addressing the in-vehicle software stack with a focus on the runtime/orchestration and the underlying communication service fabric. Furthermore, the scope extends to SDV.Dev, addressing the developer's toolchain and workflow using tools like the Eclipse IDE.
The use of open-source software in the automotive space, including safety- and security-critical applications, is on the rise. Open-source software, such as Linux, LLVM, and GCC, is widely used in various applications. However, the use of such software requires certifications and more rigorous development processes to meet the stringent requirements of the automotive industry.
John Ellis, the President of Codethink, discussed the challenges of using open-source software in the automotive industry. He emphasised the need for open-source software to undergo a rigorous development process due to the significant liability associated with vehicles.
Codethink is one of the companies involved in the Eclipse Foundation's Eclipse SDV Working Group, alongside other industry heavyweights such as Arm, BMW Group, Continental, Intel, and Renesas Electronics. The collaboration aims to provide a common base platform for SDVs, making them a better target for third-party support.
As the rise of SDVs increases the need for software to undergo the same rigorous development process as physical implementations, the Eclipse SDV Working Group is committed to ensuring that the software used in SDVs is of the highest quality, meeting both the needs of the designers and the certification requirements.
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