Modern cars are not only responsible for the hardware located under the hood but also for all kinds of computer equipment managed by the software. An extensive network of electronic control units is integrated into each car today. Automotive software takes care of fuel injection, controls the stable work of the brake system, and monitors whether the temperature inside the cabin is maintained at a specific level. Every year, the complexity of the electronic equipment in a car dramatically increases. Now the main focus of every automotive software development company is on mastering high-performance computing platforms to ensure stable software performance.
Higher computing power of the automotive electric parts and an increase in equipment automation per se lead to intensification of the code complexity. The entertainment and navigation systems of cars also deserve special attention. To improve user experience, car manufacturers started to add the ability to connect smartphones and other gadgets to the car system, which also boosted software integration on another level. Of course, there’s more to the tasks car software performs. The most important features that may be in demand in the foreseeable future include data sharing with other road users and road infrastructure systems, cloud-based vehicle updates, and autonomous driving. In this article, we will take a look at the main changes that happen in the automotive industry to keep you abreast.
Switching to continuous integration
Another relevant software development paradigm is the so-called “continuous integration”. It includes highly automated processes in which individual software elements are checked for readiness at the end of each development day to make sure they can be painlessly implemented as parts of one overall system. Thus, continuous integration makes it possible to quickly identify errors and eliminate technical issues right away. The application of agile development methods and continuous integration ensures the highest efficiency and offers additional value to customers. It facilitates the presentation of intermediate results of the development process and provides fast and constructive feedback.
Over the next five years, tech experts look forward to increased use of the methods we mentioned above. The work of the development teams will be more focused on getting the results and, therefore, the quality of the embedded projects. The importance of the hierarchy within the team and the division into self-organizing groups with clear responsibilities will become more acute. The involvement of specialists from different parts of the world who will work remotely will become much more common. It is paramount that tech professionals have suitable experience and skills. Their location is not what the companies focus on in modern realities. Manual software testing will be replaced by automated software testing, meaning that software will perform software testing.
Changes in architecture of electronic control units
In the near future, all tasks inside the car will be distributed among the main powerful units and less active units. These units will be responsible for additional functions that go beyond the traditional electric filling of a vehicle. A modern car will turn into a computer riding on four wheels and performing complex functions with its feature-rich operating system.
The methods developers apply now to deal with automotive engineering will be adjusted to the updated software programs. More and more automotive manufacturers will contribute to specific software development to get globally standardized and accepted software frameworks used by all car companies. We already have such a framework named AUTOSAR. However, its complexity doesn’t allow many engineers to learn and use it on an everyday basis. Like any other software, it still requires regular updates and refinements. With such a revolution in the automotive industry, the software inside the car will be updated overnight to avoid interrupting steady vehicle work while driving. The car will warn the driver which software parts require their attention so that the driver won’t get into an accident because of the car malfunction.
Security is in the first place
The security of modern vehicles is becoming a leading point in car manufacturing. In the past, we used to hear a lot about the comfort and speed cars can provide to drivers. Nevertheless, human and technological progress made us realize that the safety of the drivers is key. Now, security is a basic and vital option for a car since people’s lives will depend on a car’s ability to predict and overcome dangerous situations on the road. Even the security of the seat belts is a point of concern for nowadays car development. Automotive development is integrating active safety technology, like different stabilization systems that take the grip in critical situations. That’s why automotive engineering is getting more and more complicated and extensive than ever before. Everything is based on sensitive radars and cameras. Some experts believe that artificial intelligence will take full control of software development in the next decades. But don’t worry, the role of humans will still be important since AI also makes mistakes.
Wrapup
Electric car manufacturing grows every year, but these are not the only automotive advancements that happen right now. There are a lot of electric parts in regular cars that require updates and thorough attention as well. Automotive software development is more concerned about safety measures and big changes in car engineering to keep up with the progress and growing number of cars on the roads. So, what exactly do car manufacturers pursue right now?
Business owners are considering continuous integration as a new development method that helps to organize the teams and optimize the engineering processes. Embedded engineers are now shifting their attention to a constant feedback system to implement necessary modifications into the code as fast as possible. Additionally, they aim to have a software framework that will serve as a global standard and be easy to use. If you feel like automotive development makes you worried about your project’s success, get in touch with our professionals who will help you with everything you need.
