As far as I can tell, a software defined vehicle is one that has fewer computers in it for cost cutting reasons.

There’s an argument to be made that this allows better integration between subsystems, and therefore a better user experience.

We have a vehicle built this way. It is a death trap. Most of its safety issues can’t really be blamed on it using a new computer network technology. For instance, if it is dawn or dusk (so, commute hours) the vision systems get flaky and it likes to override steering and brakes to force itself into oncoming or merging traffic.

However, one issue is firmly due to it being a software defined vehicle.

If you are changing lanes with the turn signal on, and hit a bump while the passenger adjusts the stereo volume, they’ll accidentally turn the hazard lights on. Af that point the steering override will kick in and try to force abort the lane change.

A normal car wouldn’t be able to wire the hazards into the power steering subsystem, and also probably wouldn’t have the button be part of the radio control panel.

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arbitrary_name 7 hours ago | parent | next [-]

can you share what vehicle that is? i don't know why you wouldn't just name it in the post...

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schiffern 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Looks like it's the F-150 Lightning. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47421383

I chalk it up to poorly designed software from a company where software isn't the core competency, rather than blaming the basic concept of putting software in a vehicle.

"Bad software is bad" doesn't have the same ring though...

	▲	trashb an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I think in this case the point being made is "bad software makes the whole product bad", not just "bad software is bad". Its similar to how bad brakes or a roof prone to leaking makes the whole car a bad car. The "weakest link" undermines the whole system. > software isn't the core competency Software is a essential part of modern cars, remove the software and they don't function (or in some cases are not allowed on the road). The car manufacturers "core competency" is making cars so I would argue that software is definitely a "core competency" of a modern car manufacturer.

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auggierose 7 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Jesus christ. This should be just forbidden. What car is this? I guess you wouldn't buy it again?