Software Adaptability
Adaptability in software is of monumental importance. This enables designers to create or add new features and functions by modifying the code. As long as designers adhere to the code’s parameters, there will be no errors. This works at any stage of design or production, even the final product.
A prime example of this is the software-defined vehicle (SDV). Today’s vehicles have a diverse manufacturing base with thousands of vendors. This ecosystem relies on complex and expansive proprietary software to operate. Open-source software has the potential to seriously reduce software complexity, often by orders of magnitude.
And, as the electric-vehicle (EV) environment expands, especially with autonomous iterations, software will manage even more of its functions. And this isn’t relegated to just driver assistance; it will also manage all of the vehicle’s directed operation (user input), hardware, and maintenance, as well as interconnect with external devices and systems. The less complex the software, the fewer chances there are for errors. Other use cases include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, smart homes, and many low-power wireless platforms.
The Need for Standardization
Without standardization, the open-source ecosystem is nothing more than the wild west of code development. Standards form the bounds for what developers can do with it.
It’s important to understand how standards interact with open source. Open-source camps and standards camps are critically intertwined. Such an alignment produces stable, open-source solutions, tested, and as bug-free as possible. That makes it important for developers to work with companies deeply entrenched in the open-source ecosystem.
Because of the power of advanced AI- and ML-driven computing, complex designs can be incorporated into the virtual realm before any piece of hardware is touched. However, initial software costs can make the upfront investment a bit pricey. Therefore, manufacturers must first understand the value of investing in OSS. However, payback will come in the form of a multitude of benefits.
Moreover, this isn’t a time to cut corners or go with vendors that don’t have a proven track record, as that can be a recipe for disaster. Vetting vendors is critical; once the transition is made, projects become optimized in cost, scalability, and intelligent design. In essence, OSSs can become the go-to tool for product differentiation and efficiency.
Conclusion
While open-source software offers many advantages in the design ecosystem, one must be cautious and think it through. And one must be prepared to refocus on the software-first philosophy. Sometimes it can be the complete solution, but in many projects, the solution lies with integrating both open and proprietary software.
However, if the choice is made to go with open systems, the results can be very rewarding. As has been mentioned often, the simplification of implementing open systems will reduce manufacturing complexity and improve time-to-market, realizing significant cost savings across the many parts of the design and production cycle.
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