Over-the-Air (OTA) Updates: The Lifeline for Autonomous Fleets
An autonomous vehicle is never "finished." Its software is a living entity that improves continuously through Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. This allows an entire fleet of vehicles to instantly receive improvements to their perception, prediction, and planning algorithms. A single software update can enhance performance in specific scenarios, fix a rare bug, or even add new capabilities, turning the entire fleet into a collective, learning system.
FAQ:
Q: Can an owner refuse an OTA update?
A: Typically, yes for non-critical updates. However, for safety-critical patches or updates required for regulatory compliance, the manufacturer may restrict the vehicle's operation until the update is installed.
Q: What happens during an update?
A: The vehicle must be parked and cannot be driven. The process can take from a few minutes for a minor update to over an hour for a full rewrite of the core driving software.