Prospects for free software in cars

Posted Apr 12, 2018 13:34 UTC (Thu) by ortalo (guest, #4654)
In reply to: Prospects for free software in cars by k8to
Parent article: Prospects for free software in cars

In my opinion, it's not the form factor, it's the application field. Those who want to use Android in (critical) systems just want the software, they do not want the (critical) liability; they also silently want Google to take that. This is probably what Google does not want to allow (especially via a third-party). Just my personal (unreliable) feeling, but I doubt that Android is ready for this kind of domain, and even if it was, the price would certainly be very different (and the supply contract certainly extremely long and dense).

to post comments

Prospects for free software in cars

Posted Apr 12, 2018 18:02 UTC (Thu) by flussence (guest, #85566) [Link]

Android's native environment used to be considered critical systems. Smartphones these days are so notoriously flaky with all the Windows-style crapware installed on them that hardly anyone is up in arms at dropped calls or sporadic reboots any more. I already don't trust it to reliably get me through to the emergency services if the need arises, no way do I want it in charge of a 3-ton guided missile that can create a need for them in the first place.

Prospects for free software in cars

Posted Apr 12, 2018 18:40 UTC (Thu) by aigarius (subscriber, #7329) [Link]

For starters anyone doing Android in this kind of area would likely use AOSP, so there is no relationship with Google, no arbitrary third-party app access and there is still full control of the platform. What Android gives you there is an abstraction layer to run your in-car services on top of, as apps. The key is that then you are just securing the operating system layer and relying on sandboxing to protect your car systems from malicious apps.