Now We Know Why OTA Updates are so Bad

[Thor2j]

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-ceo-explains-why-legacy-220000362.html

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[mikeinet]

Hmm new article but have heard that before…. Nothing new data wise there

it must be a complete nightmare from a software mgmt prospective. Couldn’t imagine.

going to be a tough reason to hold these cars when next model comes out. I assume ford is going to have a uphill battle learning to write software… but may tank value of our cars when it comes out with hopeful speed of changes.

 

[generaltso]

Not sure why they wrote a new article about an old interview. Must be a slow news cycle.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...ery-software-gremlin-post-on-this-site.29161/

 

[RickMachE]

It's Yahoo News...

 

[Mike G]

They give the impression we're lucky any of this stuff works at all. And to add to it, it looks like this particular strategy of Ford's to farm everything out and not own the IP just to save bucks has backfired spectacularly. Corporate group think.

 

[Deleted member 16048]

They give the impression we're lucky any of this stuff works at all. And to add to it, it looks like this particular strategy of Ford's to farm everything out and not own the IP just to save bucks has backfired spectacularly. Corporate group think.

yeah, sadly it worked for a long time for them so why change it? I’m glad Ford knows it’s a problem and is willing to change it all. Shows they understand that change is good.

Tesla showed how software should be, we will see what other automakes decide to do now.

 

[Logal727]

The whole thing sounds like a pain in the ass, I'm surprised it even works at all

 

[Blue highway]

I get why having 40 different islands of code slows down the frequency of change and introduces errors... but once they have a set of code that works... the speed that they roll it out to the customer fleet is unacceptably slow.

I see posts from owners getting updates, that some have had for months or years.

Whatever the cobbled together code is that makes up BC1.3, it works in productions cars... they know what code is needed to do this, yet it is sooo slow in coming to older cars.

 

[A-A-Ron]

https://www.yahoo.com/autos/ford-ceo-explains-why-legacy-220000362.html

As a systems engineer, what he's describing is a complete lack of competent systems engineering.

 

[rkmoray]

As a long time software engineer and manager of software development, sounds like poor management from the legal and engineering departments. whenever we had an outside source write something for us, we owned the code. No permission needed to change the code. Also, Any software outsourced would have exact specs ands API's(application programmer interface) that would enable simple OTA's(look at MS and Apple as examples)

 

[Secret Sauce]

Carmakers don't need to bring all software development in house and learn how to code from the ground up to fix this problem, they only need to source the software platform from one outside developer. Surprised nobody mentioned this as a solution, especially given all the recent chatter about Android Automotive and Next Gen CarPlay.

 

[Steady Eddie]

yeah, sadly it worked for a long time for them so why change it? I’m glad Ford knows it’s a problem and is willing to change it all. Shows they understand that change is good.

Tesla showed how software should be, we will see what other automakes decide to do now.

Being based in Silicon Valley has its advantages as does freedom from legacy bureaucracy.

 

[Fremont Kid]

As a long time software engineer and manager of software development, sounds like poor management from the legal and engineering departments. whenever we had an outside source write something for us, we owned the code. No permission needed to change the code. Also, Any software outsourced would have exact specs ands API's(application programmer interface) that would enable simple OTA's(look at MS and Apple as examples)

Agree with you and A-A-Ron. Outsourcing seat controls and climate controls is far less concerning than outsourcing motor sensor controls, charging and departure preparation controls.
Even if outsourced, the foundational architecture should either be developed by Ford, or a vendor's architecture be approved by Ford. My experience leads me to conclude that outsourcing NEVER saves money long term. Hiring contractors with specific expertise who can partner with a company's internal developers can save money. Determining the architecture is the essential ingredient.

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