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Embedded software development is common in the automotive industry because of the technological advancements in car production. Most modern cars have interactive dashboards, secondary displays, and multimedia players. Some have automotive electrification designs and self-driving capabilities. All these, and more advanced technological features, run on embedded software. Car manufacturers like Tesla integrate them into their automobiles to deliver advanced features to consumers.
Software solution companies offer embedded software development services to companies in the automotive, aerospace, marine, consumer electronics, and several other industries.
Embedded software is built into devices that are not traditional computers. Without them, the devices are lifeless equipment that is unable to communicate with other humans and other devices. They serve as the brain of the device and have a dedicated operating system. Embedded software developers use C and C++ programming languages to create them.
Automobile Features That Require Embedded Software
Modern cars offer more than basic transportation. They are built to make driving convenient, avoid safety hazards, and provide entertainment. These are some of the features car manufacturers use embedded software for:
Automation and Control
Cars have many electronic control units for various functions like transmission control, automatic braking, engine management, and self-driving. Manufacturers use embedded software to automate and control these functions so they work as intended.
Safety
Embedded software helps keep drivers safe by implementing features like adaptive cruise control, anti-lock braking, airbag deployment, and automatic emergency braking. The software ensures the timely response of the systems responsible for these features to prevent or minimize the impacts of accidents. It also stops unauthorized people from accessing a car and prevents hacking attempts where applicable.
Interactive Interface
Dashboards are becoming more interactive. Many car manufacturers install touchscreen displays to show GPS navigation routes and give drivers access to features that improve their driving experience. These include but are not limited to media players, seat adjustments, temperature controls, AI voice assistants, traffic updates, and camera feed displays.
Issue diagnosis and over-the-air updates
Futuristic cars like Tesla are programmed to diagnose problems and notify drivers if something is wrong with their vehicles. Embedded software makes this possible. The software also allows cars to receive over-the-air updates to fix bugs, add extra features, and improve existing features.
Assisted Driving
Assisted driving features like collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, and automated parking are powered by embedded software. Self-driving also falls into this category. However, this feature is limited to a few cars because it is still being developed.
Integration with new technologies
Modern cars are equipped with embedded software that allows them to integrate with new technologies released into the market. For example, you can use Apple CarPlay to mirror your iPhone on your car’s infotainment screen after connecting your iPhone to your car’s Bluetooth.
Endnote
Embedded software is an essential component of modern cars. Manufacturers use it to add features like GPS navigation, media playback, temperature control, and airbag deployment. This is why embedded software development companiesare becoming prominent in the automotive industry.
