The Free Ride

Automotive computing is the next big playing field for Linux and free software, with automakers and tier-1 equipment suppliers basing their next-generation in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) platforms on Linux. But the length time-to-market of products in the car business makes it hard for the average open source user to follow the development of automotive Linux, much less to get started in the garage.

This talk will provide an overview of the major automotive Linux and open source efforts -- GENIVI, Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), Tizen, Ford's OpenXC, and others -- explaining how the pieces work together and where they overlap, with an eye toward helping the interested hacker to get started. The practical topics covered include the availability and status of Linux software for the car, car-specific hardware challenges, and interfacing with vehicle data systems like OBD-II and CAN Bus. The talk will also examine open questions and challenges for free software in automobiles, such as closed specifications, security, and licensing pitfalls. Finally, the speaker will pass on his advice to homebrew Linux IVI builders, based on the lessons he has learned designing and deploying his own Linux-based automotive computing rig.