Unlike a mobile phone with one main chip that needs to receive new software and frequent over-the-air updates, a car can have anywhere from 30 to 150 different chips that need to get regular software updates. Of course, all of these chips talk to each other, coordinating to perform complex vehicle functions, which means any mismatch in the software can lead to catastrophic and potentially life threatening problems.
The inspiration for Sibros is more personal than having previously developed an OTA solution. It stems from a series of software-related recalls that impacted Hemant’s family. Within a year, five of their vehicles were recalled for software issues. Like the majority of vehicles on the road, these were not equipped with OTA update solutions capable of handling the required update packages, which meant all five vehicles had to physically go to the dealership to be fixed.
One of the many unique aspects that characterize software applications in the auto sector is around the various electrical architectures, ranging from a microcontroller with very low space, flash, RAM, and CPU, to a microcontroller with a massive GPU and 100GB+ of memory. There are also a lot of variations coming from different suppliers with limited standardization, which makes the intricacies around updating all these components complex and often frustrating.
Hemant says Sibros is a B2B company and its customers are automakers. The value proposition for automakers includes reducing the need for physical visits to the dealerships for processes, corrections, and updates that can be done using OTA updates, as well as to gather analytical data about vehicle usage, including any indicators for improvements or additional features to enhance both vehicles and the overall customer experience.
Nowadays it seems the automotive industry cannot do without quick and flexible connected updates for consumer safety, product maintenance, and enhancing functions.