For fixes, field installation would seem to be a good idea – you would want to get critical fixes out as soon as possible, to avoid problems (the term ‘Blue Screen of Death’ takes on a totally different meaning when it comes to automotive software!). You would also want the software to have a lot of built in self-safety capabilities – as a simple example, you would want multiple safety levels to ensure when you ease up on the accelerator, the vehicle stops accelerating, or if you slam on the breaks (for a light that is turning red), then hit the accelerator (because you won’t stop in time), it does the right things, and you make it through the intersection safely.

For upgrades, I would think they should be done in a more controlled environment, maybe connected to a diagnostic simulator to run the vehicle through a series of tests to ensure the computer and software will do the right things, and sure everything is working as expected – kind of like getting a oil change.

I would also imagine that GM will want to put between-vechicle communications in these things. Having the ability to know that the Volt 5 cars up from you is breaking, so you (or the car) should start breaking too, would be kind of cool – or knowing that the Volt 5 or 10 cars up is skidding around on black ice, so you would slow down ASAP before hitting the black ice, would be awesome!

Drive by wire is an incredible challenge, and will also offer some incredible possiblities for more automated vehicle capabilities – depending on how far the manufacturers want to take it, and how much the public is willing to acccept.