The UK may well be a nation of animal lovers but it appears where affairs of the heart are concerned, our affair with the motor car can stir deep emotions too. The furore over Jeremy Clarkson and the demise of Top Gear format bears testament to that.
But ever since the first Ford Model ‘T’ ran off the production line in 1908, there has been precious little development in terms of technology. Until now that is. We are currently witnessing a transformation in the automotive industry, driven by ever-increasing congestion, concerns over emissions and fuel efficiency.
Communications technology is a powerful force behind this. From driverless cars to vehicles connected to the internet, the past few years has seen increased innovation in the once staid world of the car.
The connected car
The connected car – where a vehicle is connected to the internet via a mobile link to allow a range of applications – has received a lot of column inches. Applications include navigation, infotainment, remote maintenance, improved safety features and reduced carbon emissions. Cars, for example, will be able to use internet sensors to find parking spaces that are free and avoid traffic jams.
While it is widely expected that more than 90% of cars will be connected to the internet by 2020, little attention, however, has been paid to the security aspects of this development where cars are becoming the equivalent to smartphones on wheels.
Like any other computer, the connected car can be hacked, with almost 100 per cent of connected cars showing security weaknesses.
There are concerns about hackers gaining access and control to the essential functions and features of those vehicles and for others to use information on drivers’ habits for commercial purposes without the drivers’ knowledge or consent. As with all other devices plugged into the “Internet of Things”, security and integrity of data is of critical importance to prevent unauthorised access or remote hijacking of a vehicle.
BT has a global team of security specialists, including “ethical hackers”, who provide a standardised method to test systems by imitating hacker attacks, reporting possible vulnerabilities and providing recommendations. This has now extended that expertise to advise vehicle manufacturers, insurance companies and other players in the automotive industry, with the aim of identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before the keys of a new vehicle are handed to a proud owner.
Called BT Assure Ethical Hacking for Vehicles, it includes a range of tests targeted at the “attack surfaces” of the vehicle. These cover interfaces that are accessible inside the car, such as Bluetooth links, USB ports, or the DVD drive, as well as external connections such as links to mobile networks or power plugs. BT looks at the end-to-end security by testing and verifying all the systems that interact with the connected vehicle.
The ultimate objective is to identify vulnerabilities that would allow unauthorized alteration of configuration settings or that would introduce malware into the car. These remote systems can include the laptops of maintenance engineers, infotainment providers, and other supporting systems.
Driverless cars
Another innovative development where BT is closely involved is driverless cars. This is through its association with the MK:Smart programme in Milton Keynes, a £16 million collaborative venture to create a “Smart City”. It’s led by the Open University to develop innovative solutions to support economic growth in Milton Keynes, BT is the lead technology partner.Underpinning the project is an information hub deployed by BT which gathers vast amounts of real-time information from all kinds of different sensors in the city. The data is being used to build smarter, innovative new transport and energy applications.
A key initiative is the driverless car. This is looking to introduce two-person battery-driven pods which will travel at speeds of 12mph along the pavement, using sensors to avoid colliding with pedestrians and other objects.
The pods will cost £2 a trip, and hailed using a mobile app. More than 100 are expected to be in use over the next two years.
Greener, safer motoring
Predicting the next major innovation to make driving a safer, more efficient and less polluting pastime may be difficult but one thing is certain, as in most aspects of our lives, communications is likely to be at the centre of it and BT will want to play a prominent role.