Automotive
Embedded systems in the automotive sector deal with everything from entertainment and cruise control to suspension control, navigation systems and airbag systems.
Embedded devices in automotive
Not long ago the closest thing to computer technology in your car might have been the CD player. Today’s cars are almost thinking machines, able to incorporate mini-computers or embedded systems that deal with everything from entertainment and cruise control to suspension control, navigation systems and airbag systems.
Within a few years, cars, lorries and buses will become more sophisticated – to a degree that would once have been unimaginable. Even before the advent of self-driving cars, which will involve massive use of embedded systems, cars will be able to sense, plan, communicate and, of course, drive, with minimal human involvement.
Now, however, there is little thought given to the embedded systems security planning that could be involved in this. But that cannot last, security and standards requirements will become part of the changes that intelligent vehicles will bring – and that includes software protected from hacking and bugs.
$4.8bn
Estimated market value for automotive embedded systems
Up to 100
Electronic control units
(ECUs) per vehicle
Protecting paid features in cars: The challenges and how Emproof Nyx can help
As cars become more advanced and connected, manufacturers are looking for new ways to monetise their products beyond just the initial purchase price. One way they’re doing this is by offering additional features that can be activated via software, such as map updates for navigation systems or paid subscriptions for hard products like seat warmers.
However, with these new revenue streams come new risks, such as financial losses if customers are able to bypass the paywall and access these features without paying for them by reverse engineering the software to discover the underlying technology and exploit it for their own gain.
Where are they used
All the processes below require connected devices with embedded microcontrollers and microprocessors to operate. It is essential to deploy advanced security into these embedded devices to ensure overall protection and device reliability.
Driver assistance systems
A group of electronic technologies within an automotive vehicle that assist drivers in carrying out functions such as parking, steering and braking.
Display systems
In-vehicle displays assist drivers with tasks and display visual information. For example, a speedometer which measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a vehicle.
Monitoring
Devices within a vehicle that monitor driver activities and help identify behaviours such as excessive speed, rapid acceleration, harsh braking, or drowsy driving.
Multimedia
Vehicle infotainment systems are connected to radio and can transfer audio and video content to speakers and display screens through Bluetooth and USB.
Navigation systems
Uses a satellite navigation device to retrieve vehicle position data which is then correlated to a position on a road to display destination directions.
Safety
Includes crash avoidance technologies designed to prevent or limit the severity of a collision, and crash protection technologies such as airbags which protect passengers from hitting the vehicle interior.
Automotive is protected with Emproof Nyx
Virtually every embedded device that runs software will benefit from the advanced security protections offered by Emproof Nyx – including protection against reverse engineering and exploitation attacks. This is especially the case in applications that handle sensitive data, are interconnected, or run critical and functional safety.
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