Following a successful static demonstration earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, the eSync Alliance, along with its engineering partners, showcased OTA updates to containerized software on a dynamic autonomous vehicle at AutoTech: Detroit this month.
The PIXKit vehicle – developed by next-gen smart vehicle manufacturer Pix Moving – performed driving demonstrations in the event’s parking facility. Initially, the vehicle attempted to autonomously navigate a road course but stopped safely when it encountered an obstacle. After an OTA installation of an updated planning module, the vehicle successfully navigated around the obstacle and completed the course.
OTA updates accelerate the development of autonomous driving software and enhance capabilities throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle.
This demonstration was a joint project between the eSync Alliance, the Autoware Foundation and SOAFEE.
eSync is the automotive industry’s only standardized bi-directional OTA pipeline compatible with all popular automotive operating systems and in-vehicle architectures. It is designed to enable auto makers to deploy software updates across the entire vehicle while transmitting diagnostic data back to the manufacturer.
Alliance members actively participate in shaping these specifications, which the Alliance says results in faster and more reliable system development throughout the supply chain.
Mike Gardner, executive director of the eSync Alliance, said, “Our activity at AutoTech: Detroit is a clear and natural next step to showcase the advantages of the eSync platform and its capacity to drive change in the automotive sector as a whole. Not only does this demonstration bring the capabilities of eSync into sharp focus, it also proves the point that collaboration in this space leads to exciting results.”