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Imagine only having one copy of the system so when a situation like this occurs, you lack the ability to automatically switch to a working one, re-download and retry, without danger of this occurring.
This was fixed a decade ago with Android. They could have literally taken the source code from aosp and added it, or at least converted it (if in different programming language), and never had this issue. It would cost $0 and minimal time. But no. That won’t ever happen. It’s built ford tough.
While the implementation of an A/B update system wouldn’t be drag and drop from Android to a different OS, they absolutely could implement the same idea to prevent this issue.
The likely reason as to why is storage space, you need two copies of the system, while only one is running at a time. They probably put as little space into these infotainment systems as possible.
If they put more in new models, they’d then have to support two methods of updating the system. It’s easier to tell the customer on the rare occasion that an error does happen “oops we made a fucky wucky it’s on you to fix it”
There’s no way storage space is the issue. It would cost pennies per car and take up no additional space or power. The size of map/gps data would dwarf the OS by an order of magnitude or more.
You’re 100% right. It would be pennies for larger storage. However, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t go for a smaller size to save those pennies.
I used to work on a car lot, and a disturbingly large number of cars had an SD card port that would only be used for map data. You had to purchase these cards from a dealer or the manufacturer specifically, and if you wanted map data the SD card had to be inserted. I saw this specifically on some Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Subaru models, though it wouldn’t surprise me if Ford uses the same method.
They certainly wouldn’t add more storage than they need. But “need” is a relative term. If having a bit more storage means you aren’t bricking customer cars requiring expensive service, then you “need” the storage.
It’s more likely that the update process itself is a bit more complicated than e.g. updating a phone, and unexpected errors in specific processes make it harder to guarantee the safety of the device. For example if an update fails because one of the devices failed to flash, one may not be able to easily re-flash it and it may indicate a hardware fault.
That’s also a valid possibility. Not a big fan of the idea of an ECU or similar getting an OTA, but I guess it’s better than doing a recall if there’s an issue? Not that my 1990 or 2010 vehicles ever needed something updated in them.
I hate the future of vehicles. I don’t believe that the infotainment system should ever be connected to important vehicle functions.
I agree totally. Ideally the car should be fully functional with barely any complex software like most cars before 2010. The only case where a failing software update should be able to brick your car is when it’s fixing a low level OS bug that renders the car unsafe to drive without the update.
Yeah likely, and I’d be super pissed about this. You’re (ford) telling me you cheap fucks couldn’t be asked to install two like, shit, even cheap-ass comsumer-grade 100gb ssds or something at the cost of like $10 a pop, before ‘economies of scale’, in my fucking 50k vehicle. I want the tow bill comped, I want the repair comped, I want an equivalent rental vehicle comped for the entire duration of the repair, I want it in writing that if this shit happens again that I’m going to get the same treatment as I am now, and my time isn’t free either so I want complementary maintenance the next time I’m in here; or I’m driving straight through the front window as soon as the repair is done, and I’m not stopping with the first vehicle I crash into.
Yeah, I’ve worked on embedded systems (some projects involving automotive and heavy machinery), and the amount of penny-pinching they used when selecting components was pretty crazy. On one project I worked on, they didn’t want to spend an extra 30 cents for a microcontroller with more flash, so we had to be very cognizant of every byte we used. Flash was so tight, our firmware would only fit if we used the highest optimization setting on the compiler (making debugging very difficult).
That’s the old A/B that requires 2x storage.
The new method uses snapshotting and compression:
Cars cost tens of thousands of dollars. A 1tb ssd costs tens of dollars.
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I work on consumer electronic ear buds. Frigging ear buds, and we support this…
Even some decent modern Wi-Fi routers have such protection. There’s working and backup partition. If a firmware update fails, it boots using the previous working partition.
This is a better explanation (in this case for Cisco Linksys EA3500):
Like several other Linksys devices, the EA3500 has a dual firmware layout: working and backup partitions. Unless you manually choose which partition by doing a manual uboot/tftp install, firmware flashes occur on the backup partition and the EA3500 shall reboot from the backup partition following from a firmware flash. The backup partition becomes the new working partition when the reboot was successful. The former working partition becomes the new backup partition.
Motherboards for years have a backup firmware just in case you fry the primary firmware.
This Ford issue is laughable.
Ford is only focused on finding new ways of having your car break down in the middle of nowhere.
You don’t earn the name ‘found on road dead’ without having to innovate once in awhile.
Fix Or Repair Daily
eh my F250 is a beast and keeps on going. Only has broken down on me one time because of an oil pressure sensor. On a 7.3L diesel the oil flow is a must!
Yeah, there are a few things that I’m okay with my car preventing me from driving, and oil pressure is absolutely one of them.
this is exactly what henry ford wanted to happen i did a seance and checked in with him
Henry Ford when he learns that Jews are driving cars
I remember a few years back when farmers were in the news for using Russian hacks to get around this type of shit in their John Deere tractors. I thought, surely that won’t become a problem for regular cars… That was back when I still had some faith left in humanity to overcome capitalism’s bullshit.
It was actually Ukrainians that provided the John Deere hacks.
Heroes
Russia only makes problems for Ukraine to solve, it appears. Lol
“tow truck” why on earth would a tow truck require smart components at all? This is multiple layers of stupidity and dystopian.
I think it’s steps for the tow truck operator to perform before they can tow the now-undriveable car. Like getting it in neutral, disabling parking break, maybe disconnecting batteries.
Yeah that sounds completely unessesary to have such features when they can be done manually and probably with better compatibility (I’m guessing Ford tow trucks only connect to their proprietary standard)
Modern cars have some stupid functions in the form of nicities.
How are you going to put a car in neutral if it’s a push-button shift that’s unresponsive because the infotainment system has to boot for the transmission control module (probably for some stupid reason like being able to display errors like this).
My wife’s minivan has a push button shift. And automatic headlights. You want to go to the drive-in? Gotta hit the (pushbutton) park-brake to disable the auto headlights. And the radio will turn off every 30 minutes during the movie to save battery.
That’s nice but truckers don’t need that
That message is for the tow truck operator pulling out the car.
Believe it or not, sometimes the tow truck operator sees something for the first time. Sometimes, even, the savvy car owner sees things for the first time.
I had an 86 Cougar that got struck in the rear quarter panel and wouldn’t start. While I was waiting for a tow, as luck would have it, my regular tow truck driver lived right in front of where I broke down (I’d crossed paths with this guy a lot of times because my dad was restoring a car and had bought a couple donor cars to pull parts from). He showed me that there’s a safety switch in the trunk that turns off power to the fuel pump. He reset it and it started right up.
Now, guaranteed, at one point in time this guy had never seen a post-Pinto Ford that wouldn’t start after a collision. I’m sure a screen that told him (or the owner) that there’s a safety switch would’ve helped him that day.
Now, when my jeep radiator hose cracked and I didn’t want to risk driving it home overheating, the tow truck driver (AAA) saved me a tow by cutting back a bit of the hose and reattaching it with the good part in tact. That’s the type of trick that a good driver knows and can share. But you can’t expect them to know of the safeties and bypasses of dozens of different configurations that come out every year, off-hand, potentially somewhere without internet access.
That’s great for convenience but not a “this vehicle absolutely cannot function without” feature
Wait, what do you think is happening? Do you think the car just wants to see a tow truck driver and is acting out to get its way?
The vehicle is immobile. There is more to do to prep it for towing than simple shift-to-neutral. The message explains how to do that. What the fuck about the message is keeping it from functioning?
This should be a crime, punishable by total forfeiture of the company.
Your description sounds very aggressive.
#"🇺🇸 Nationalize the Auto Industry 🇺🇸 "
sounds happy and patriotic.
Our country was founded on shooting at those who oppress us.
A little fire is at the very least patriotic.
You will own absolutely nothing and like it
me taking my extremely repairable bike on the train and never having to worry about fuel or oil
ELF had the right idea all along.
Oh the turntables…
Reminded me of this old joke:
https://onthelineauto.com/2017/07/11/general-motors-replies-to-bill-gates/
We need FOSC
Well, there’s already a market in rooting cars to unlock features. Why not?
What kinda computer is this guy using
This was written in the age of win 3.11. likely a 486 with 4mb ram and a math coprocessor.
Does anyone know what the screen actually says? Just curious.
It says something about call this 1-800 number for help and we’ll send a tow truck if needed
Thanks!
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Thanks!
Could it be the update was to patch a safety recall issue and so without the update, the car isn’t considered safe to drive?
They need to have a solution in place other than brick your vehicle. Even if it only allows your nav to go to the nearest dealership or some shit. Will it be ignored? Yup, but at least I can get to my job. Or to my house where I can, ya know… Update.
Imagine being in the middle of a desert when this happens.
Don’t care. If I buy a car and your software makes the decision to disable it, fuck you forever and you’ll never see another nickel from me. If you sold me a car that isn’t safe to drive in the first place, fuck you forever and you’ll never see another nickel from me.
Watch and see cops navigating the first vehicle to stop in ten years.
Do you mean something like this?: https://youtube.com/shorts/YFC0goatRTQ
Or maybe rather this?: https://youtu.be/lJL6Wkfs90M Alt: https://piped.video/lJL6Wkfs90M
More like them overtaking the controls at the moment and driving you off the road, whatever there is a bush, a hole or a guarding rail with nor reason no care at all
damn tesla needs one of those features
Welcome to the new norm.
Cybertruck
Paging Louis Rossmann.
