Charging Station OTA Client for Reliable EV Software Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle software update methods, such as wired connections at dealerships and OTA updates, are inconvenient, costly, and inefficient due to vehicle downtime, unreliable wireless connections, and high processing demands, leading to infrequent software updates.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an OTA-integrated charging station that communicates with the vehicle and OEM system to retrieve and install software updates, reducing reliance on vehicle connectivity and processing power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired connection at dealership is used for software updates, then software update reliability is improved, but vehicle downtime increases and convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station serves as an intermediary device between the OEM server and the vehicle. It downloads software updates using its own WiFi connection and transfers them to the vehicle via wired connection during charging, eliminating the need for the vehicle to directly connect to WiFi and reducing downtime since updates can be downloaded during charging periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station performs preliminary software update downloads during charging periods when the vehicle is stationary. This allows the vehicle to receive updates without needing to be at the dealership, as the charging station has already prepared the update files in advance.
2Loss of time
If OTA update is used for software updates, then vehicle downtime is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to unreliable wireless connections
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station acts as a mediator that has reliable WiFi connectivity. It downloads software updates reliably from the OEM server and then transfers them to the vehicle through a stable wired connection, bypassing the vehicle's unreliable WiFi connection while still enabling OTA-style updates without dealership visits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pre-integrating OTA client on vehicle is done, then software update capability is improved, but processing power and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The OTA client functionality is extracted from the vehicle and relocated to the charging station. This allows vehicles without built-in OTA capabilities to still receive software updates, while the processing and storage demands are shifted to the charging station's infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides power charging, software updates, and acts as an OTA client for vehicles. This multi-functional approach allows vehicles without native OTA capability to receive updates through the charging station's universal service.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for vehicle software updates via over-the-air (OTA) integrated charging stations is herein provided. In one example, a method of an OTA integrated charging station comprises establishing communication between a computing system of the OTA integrated charging station and a vehicle computing system of an electric vehicle; determining one or more vehicle specifics of the electric vehicle from the vehicle computing system; establishing communication between the computing system and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) system; retrieving a software update from the OEM system based on the one or more vehicle specifics; and the update to the vehicle computing system via a software installer thereof.