[Ars] Intel Wants Linux in your Car - Overclock.net

rabidgnome229 · 05-20-08

Quote:

During initialization, the internal navigation system in some Lexus models insipidly proclaims Lexus Link Active! I always wish it was possible to swap out that obnoxious sound and make it use a Starcraft classic: Battlecruiser operational! Unfortunately, car computers are generally built with highly proprietary software platforms that are difficult to hack and largely closed to after-market third-party applications. Intel plans to change that with a new project which aims to make it possible for developers to pimp their rides with prodigious penguin power.

Intel is collaborating with vehicle manufacturers in an effort to build an open Linux-based software platform for next-generation automotive computing systems. The project will extend Intel's Moblin initiative and provide car makers with a complete, preintegrated software solution for what Intel refers to as in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) technology [...]

The Moblin software platform will primarily be used on devices that are built around Intel's new Atom processor architecture. Featuring small size, extremely low power requirements, and support for the conventional x86 instruction set, Atom offers a very compelling option for mobile and embedded tech—including car systems [...]

Navigation systems are already practically ubiquitous in luxury vehicles but modern multimedia functionality is rapidly climbing to a level of comparable popularity. Palmer cites the iPod as the likely catalyst for this trend and notes that over 15 million iPod docking stations have been factory-installed in cars. Consumers increasingly carry a large amount of audio and video content everywhere they go and they expect their vehicles to provide seamless support for this technology. Palmer says that Atom and Moblin are equipped to handle emerging multimedia requirements as well as more conventional navigation systems. Moblin-based infotainment applications can be used by all occupants of a vehicle: navigation consoles for the front seat, and video entertainment systems for the back seat [...]

Intel appears to be creating a foundation for a very strong IVI solution that is open and conducive to third-party development. Adoption of Moblin and Atom would transform the simple appliance-like car consoles we know today into extensible computers that can run custom software and offer a wide range of new features. This is another big step forward for Linux in the mobile and embedded space, where it is also gaining a strong position in the phone handset market.

More inside Ars Technica

I'm happy to see Intel pushing Atom hard. x86 in the embedded world is good news for consumers

eternaldj · 05-20-08

That would be something nice to have

Dillard13 · 05-20-08

Wouldn't make hacking cars a reality? As to mess with a GPS and make it give wrong directions? Or possibly to shut down the car when the malicious person(s) feels? I can see how great this would be...but there should be a lot of security behind these things.

rabidgnome229 · 05-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dillard13

Wouldn't make hacking cars a reality? As to mess with a GPS and make it give wrong directions? Or possibly to shut down the car when the malicious person(s) feels? I can see how great this would be...but there should be a lot of security behind these things.

Hopefully important features would be isolated or at least protected from network access. This is linux we're talking about, so expect it to be robust from the start and stay that way since the user will have little access to the underlying system

Licht · 05-20-08

Now this is what Linux needs to be doing. Really cool things on low power/cheaper platforms.

Wonder what the specs will be too, could probably put Windows on it too (pending specs, like i said.)

Xero. · 05-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dillard13

Wouldn't make hacking cars a reality? As to mess with a GPS and make it give wrong directions? Or possibly to shut down the car when the malicious person(s) feels? I can see how great this would be...but there should be a lot of security behind these things.

They said Linux, not Open-Windows.

Dillard13 · 05-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xero.

They said Linux, not Open-Windows.

I know that, do you think I'm stupid? I still think someone, if they really wanted to would find a way to make my statements a reality.

rduffy123 · 05-20-08

The systems arent going to be tied into your whole car there captain. Someone gonna spend the the time to hack your car to give you wrong directions? Come on now, lets be serious.

Vegnagun666 · 05-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dillard13

I know that, do you think I'm stupid? I still think someone, if they really wanted to would find a way to make my statements a reality.

Lol

Dillard13 · 05-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by rduffy123

The systems arent going to be tied into your whole car there captain. Someone gonna spend the the time to hack your car to give you wrong directions? Come on now, lets be serious.

I mean, not like that. But if someone puts their into finding a way to hack it, then tells someone, that person could do it.

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Industry News > Software News
[Ars] Intel Wants Linux in your Car

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)