When the auto industry engages over the air (OTA) update solutions there is usually little thought or motivation to accomplish much beyond flashing to a next revision level of software. But does this have to be the full stop?  For that matter, why do we need to think of OTA and acquisition of device data sampling of key performance metrics as two entirely different stand-alone systems?

Instead let us consider what it means when we say “connected car”?

What if we took a more wholistic and unifying view of a connected car, combining what appears to be two separate and isolated domains?  Data gathering offers endless opportunities to manage and monitor performance for the life of the vehicle. Doing so over the OTA pathway provides an opportunity for a single secured pipeline that is standardized across the industry. This unification has real economic and performance benefits for OEM, Tier-1 suppliers as well as the vehicle owner.

In fact, that is exactly what eSync technology has accomplished.  OTA and Data Gathering are combined into a single pipeline in the newly released v2.0 eSync Alliance specification.

The growing adoption of eSync technology in production released vehicles, with implementations that already leverage many of the data gathering features ahead of the v2.0 specification release, offers real-time evidence this approach is both valued and viable.

The ability of the eSync Server-Client-Agent architecture to work across multiple Operating Systems and Networks/Busses to reach any ECU or smart sensor in the connected car is greatly valued.  Using eSync to access real-time or buffered data creates countless opportunities for added value to automakers and Tier-1 suppliers of these end devices. 

Our Technical Work Group has worked tirelessly to deliver to the industry a multi-company specification that is practical and deployable today. I am thankful for their efforts and congratulate them for this grand accomplishment.

The beauty of contribution and collaboration through an open industry trade association is the ability to deliver what is needed for all, instead of the lonely isolation of proprietary solutions. We at the eSync Alliance welcome all participants in the industry to come join us in defining and creating the next generation specification for OTA and Data Gathering. 

Yours sincerely,
Mike Gardner
mike.gardner@esyncalliance.org

MEMBER PROFILE
In today’s issue, we profile MOLEX, a founding member of the eSync Alliance.

For nearly 30 years, Molex has played a vital role in the automotive industry, addressing demand for flawless interconnectivity of mobile devices and data services. We bring a heritage in networking and a longstanding reputation for product quality and customer collaboration to meet growing consumer needs across the automotive ecosystem. From electrification and ADAS to high-speed networking, vehicle antenna systems, mobility, and vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X) – our vision is to make a connected world possible by enabling technologies that transform the future and improve people’s lives.

LATEST NEWS

The Alliance has had quite a good start into 2021.

• In March, version 2.0 of the eSync specification is being released. A ten-page synopsis is available for free download on our website.
• Mike Gardner sat down with Gary Manchester of MOLEX to discuss his views on OTA and the Alliance’s future. Read it here.
• The fact that 13 million cars were recalled in the USA during the first half of 2020 made us write a new blog post.
• In the January issue of EETimes Mike Gardner discusses the need for standardization in over the air (OTA) updates – and plots a route forward to handle the automotive industry’s fragmented approach.