Software Over-The-Air Updates
Faster, smaller, safer OTA updates for a next-generation cockpit controller. As Senior Solution Architect at a leading premium automotive OEM, I redesigned the OTA update architecture for the cockpit domain on its next-generation electric vehicles, including a patent-pending pause-and-resume mechanism.
The case study
Technologies: OTA architecture, delta updates, image compression, A/B partitioning, hypervisor, multi-OS cockpit platform, UNECE R155/R156, ASPICE
The challenge
Cockpit software images are large and mobile data is costly
Every minute spent updating is a minute the customer can't use the car
A hypervised controller runs several operating systems that all need updating
Updates must survive low battery, lost connectivity or a driver who wants to leave
My approach
Delta updates: send only what changed between versions
Compressed image transfer to cut payload size further
A/B partition banking: install in the background, switch over, keep a fallback
Designing for interruption, leading to a patent-pending pause-and-resume mechanism
Aligned with UNECE R156 (software updates) and R155 (cybersecurity)
Smaller downloads for customers
Shorter vehicle downtime during updates
A patent-pending approach to resuming interrupted updates safely
Outcome
Balu Pillai
Automotive Solutions Architect
London, United kingdom
contact@balupillai.com
© 2026 Balu Pillai. All rights reserved.