What is an automotive over-the-air update?

00:03:37
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18NCdr9_fuA

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses over-the-air updates (OTAs) in the automotive sector, explaining how they allow car manufacturers to remotely update vehicle software. OTAs can enhance features, improve performance, and reduce the need for dealership visits. The updates can be categorized into drive control and infotainment, with most being free, although some features may require payment. The potential for monetizing software services is also highlighted, indicating a shift in how vehicles can be enhanced over time.

Takeaways

  • 📱 OTAs are similar to phone updates.
  • 🔧 They allow remote software updates for vehicles.
  • 🚗 Reduces dealership visits for updates.
  • 🆕 Vehicles can improve over time with software.
  • 💰 Some features may require payment, like Tesla's Autopilot.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:03:37

    The video explains the concept of over-the-air updates (OTAs) in the automotive industry, highlighting their significance as cars become more digitized and reliant on software. OTAs allow car manufacturers to remotely update vehicle software via cloud servers, enhancing features, improving performance, and fixing bugs without requiring dealership visits. Updates can be categorized into drive control (like autonomous capabilities) and infotainment (such as map updates). The shift to OTAs means fewer dealership trips, with manufacturers like Renault reporting that up to 90% of vehicles can have up-to-date software. While most updates are currently free, some features, like Tesla's autopilot, can be purchased, indicating a potential for monetization in software services. The video concludes by inviting viewers to suggest other automotive terms for future definitions.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is an over-the-air update?

    An over-the-air update (OTA) is a method of delivering software updates to vehicles remotely via cellular or Wi-Fi connections.

  • What can be updated via OTA?

    Updates can include drive control features like autonomous capabilities and powertrain efficiency, as well as infotainment features like map updates and new applications.

  • How does OTA affect dealership visits?

    OTAs reduce the need for dealership visits as many updates can be completed automatically.

  • Are OTA updates free?

    Most OTA updates have been free, but some features, like Tesla's Autopilot, can be purchased.

  • How often do some manufacturers provide updates?

    Some manufacturers, like VW, schedule regular updates every three months.

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Subtitles
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  • 00:00:00
    [Music]
  • 00:00:06
    what is an over there update or ota
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    i'm auto vista 24 journalist tom gerges
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    here with your handy what is
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    definition now of all the questions
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    we've asked and then answered in our
  • 00:00:18
    what is series
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    this one might seem the most
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    straightforward
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    but the automotive implications of otas
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    are anything but simple
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    now you might be thinking over-the-air
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    update isn't that what my phone does
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    well you wouldn't be far wrong
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    as cars become more digitized they're
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    increasingly defined by software
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    programs can be updated to provide new
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    features make improvements and correct
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    bugs
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    but how exactly does this work
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    the car maker controls the device
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    management system that issues the new
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    software
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    this is uploaded onto a cloud-based
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    server and sent to vehicles via a
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    cellular or wi-fi connection
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    the car then downloads and installs the
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    updates and can send back diagnostic
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    information
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    now depend upon the manufacturer updates
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    like these can be done in a few minutes
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    or over the course of a night
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    it is likely the car needs to be parked
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    and turned off
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    and if it's electric some oems will
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    prefer the vehicle to be plugged in and
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    with a good amount of charge in the
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    battery
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    so what can be updated via ota
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    broadly updates will fall within two
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    categories drive control and
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    infotainment
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    for example autonomous capabilities and
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    greater powertrain efficiency would be
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    considered drive control
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    meanwhile map updates and fresh
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    applications would fall under the
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    infotainment system
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    so how does all of this affect the car
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    as we know it
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    firstly it means fewer trips to the
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    dealerships
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    updates that were once done manually can
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    now be completed automatically
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    in september 2021 renault said the new
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    technology means that up to 90 of
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    vehicles will have up-to-date software
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    that's compared to almost 60 through
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    dealerships
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    secondly cars no longer need to be
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    constrained by their hardware
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    they have the potential to just keep on
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    getting better with time
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    so far the vast majority of these
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    updates have been free
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    car makers are just kinship what ota can
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    achieve
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    some have even scheduled regular updates
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    to keep the vehicles up to date after
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    they roll out of the factory
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    for example vw's id range is due to
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    receive updates every three months
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    but not all ota packages are free
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    for example tesla owners can purchase
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    different levels of this autonomous
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    program autopilot
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    this is possible because the models are
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    fitted with the necessary hardware as
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    standard
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    monetization of software services does
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    open up a new world of earning potential
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    for car makers
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    features or functions on demand could be
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    downloaded and rented as needed
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    ota updates and features could therefore
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    change what a vehicle is capable of
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    making more fluid and user defined
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    we are going to cover functions on
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    demand in a future installment of our
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    wattes series
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    so make sure you give us a like and
  • 00:03:19
    subscribe to ensure you don't miss out
  • 00:03:21
    and are there any other automotive terms
  • 00:03:23
    you'd like us to define
  • 00:03:25
    then go ahead and leave us a message in
  • 00:03:26
    the comments below
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    we'll catch you next time
  • 00:03:33
    [Music]
  • 00:03:37
    you
Tags
  • OTA
  • over-the-air updates
  • automotive software
  • vehicle updates
  • infotainment
  • drive control
  • Tesla
  • VW
  • Renault
  • software monetization