Does the Volt use opensource software? I understand IBM developed the software but nothing indicates any licensing that applies. Any clues from the vehicle?

If IBM and the Volt were to use an open source OS like Linux to create and run an application, that does not mean the application program such as the Volt is not protected by law. GM must have paid dearly to have IBM design the software for the Volt and no one gets to use that software w/o GM's approval.

I would really doubt that at this stage the Volt uses open source hardware. I would think they are just using a Linux kernal. However I do think the Volts software is hackable.

When I asked some GM engineers about the issue they couldn't really give me a good answer about the security of the software. So I am assuming that there is a service port on the Volt for software updates, and could just as easily be used to reverse engineer it.

As I understand it, there isn't any IBM software in the Volt. Rather, IBM software was used (heavily) during the development of the Volt. For example, it might have been used to do rapid simulations, obviating the need for some early prototypes and tests.

Owners - please look through your manuals, other paperwork, and any digital media that accompanied the car. If the Volt uses GPL software, the various licenses would have been provided in one of these.

Section 13-26 of the Owners Manual says the Volt has an Airplane type black box that records events that could be recalled to give information on the status of the car prior to a crash situation. Lawyers will have a field day with this. GM can also poll information on Volt performance. Is this getting to be a little too much big brother? I think the owner should have the ability to override this data recording.

Section 13-26 of the Owners Manual says the Volt has an Airplane type black box that records events that could be recalled to give information on the status of the car prior to a crash situation. Lawyers will have a field day with this. GM can also poll information on Volt performance. Is this getting to be a little too much big brother? I think the owner should have the ability to override this data recording.Where you been? These have been in all GM cars since the early 90s and have since proliferated throughout almost ALL modern vehicles from ALL manufacturers.
It is hardware built into the Airbag Control Module and records vehicle dynamics (velocity, g-forces, throttle, brake etc) items extremely useful in accident reconstruction. The real-world data that has been collected over the past 15 years has also been instrumental in the engineering of better vehicle safety systems. Police and other acencies have special hardware to extract this data from the airbag module (or other modules) after an accident.

This "crash data" has also generally been widely accepted and adopted by the legal system although there have been some "challenges" with respect to privacy and ownership. The privacy issues were easily remedied where there is nothing "personal" being recorded and the statutes that state when you are driving your car on public roadways you are in effect in a public place with no expectations of privacy.(or whatever legalese as such)

Generally the titled owner of the vehicle OWNS the data in the "black box" so unless you sign it over, or it is subpoenaed with a search warrant as part of a criminal investigation it cannot be collected or used. There are also changes in the wind being implemented by NHTSA where this equipment and crash data collection will become mandatory by ALL manufacturers selling in the USA.

WopOnTour

Owners - please look through your manuals, other paperwork, and any digital media that accompanied the car. If the Volt uses GPL software, the various licenses would have been provided in one of these. Simple answer. No, not open source at the vehicle level.
WOT

The GPL v3 initiative was concerned with the "tivo-ization" of software. I don't have much interest in starting a legal battle. It's questionable as to how that would go down.

For the price-point, however, I'd never take take my chances on something that had little or no value standing in my way.


I would really doubt that at this stage the Volt uses open source hardware. I would think they are just using a Linux kernal. However I do think the Volts software is hackable.


I think I'd hack my cars software about as fast as I'd hack my phones. LOL.

Really though. My curiosity goes toward my experience with automotive "computers" being about as sophisticated my ti-83.

If the car is as complex as it would seem, I'd expect not to find fault. I'd only point to the Prius-gas-pedal stuck incidents.

Found it! In the owner's manual on page 13-24:
1854

The http://www.oss.gm.com/ site only lists the 2011 Volt for software download.

Final answer: yes, it does.

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?7697-Volt-open-source-software-download

Now that takes some brave soul to figure out how to upload this Linux baby to Volt. I hope it would not make it "transform."

In the 711_03.08.03.02.zip archive:


Length Date Time Name
--------- ---------- ----- ----
22614 2010-12-13 13:18 field_upgrade_20101210-D1.1.2.tar.bz2
10147461 2010-12-13 13:12 linux-2.6.24-pro5024_eflex_fb_20101210-D1.1.2.tar.bz2
1078895 2010-12-13 13:14 u-boot_20101210-D1.1.2.tar.bz2
--------- -------
11248970 3 files

Under field_upgrade/target, there are many files named after "eflex", which would appear to be an early project name for the Volt:

http://green.autoblog.com/2007/01/07/detroit-auto-show-general-motors-e-flex-platform/

The rest is not very exciting - a Montavista ppc kernel and boot loader. Curiously absent is the user side of things. Namely, GNU libc...

Sorry, I seriously doubt that the Volt's software is publically available. The Open Source language in the owner's manual is nothing more than a disclaimer. It is stating that portions of the software rely upon open source libraries. Use of those libraries requires acknowledgement (i.e., the GNU language). Nearly every major software package includes GNU language because nearly every major software package relies upon one or more open source libraries.

I wish I could think of a good example. Common libraries that come to mind are Zip and MP3 decoders; however, those two are NOT open source--they require usage fees. There are tons of open source libraries that are brilliantly written, widely used, and highly reliable. No good software developer would screw around re-inventing perfectly good "wheels" that are open source, especially when the only requirement is to include GNU language.

Make sense?

Sorry, I seriously doubt that the Volt's software is publically available. The Open Source language in the owner's manual is nothing more than a disclaimer. It is stating that portions of the software rely upon open source libraries. Use of those libraries requires acknowledgement (i.e., the GNU language). Nearly every major software package includes GNU language because nearly every major software package relies upon one or more open source libraries.

I wish I could think of a good example. Common libraries that come to mind are Zip and MP3 decoders; however, those two are NOT open source--they require usage fees. There are tons of open source libraries that are brilliantly written, widely used, and highly reliable. No good software developer would screw around re-inventing perfectly good "wheels" that are open source, especially when the only requirement is to include GNU language.

Make sense?This is exactly correct. There might have been certain developmental aspects of open source code within various firmware that demanded "credit" in the owners manual. But the Volt's various software "packages" are all proprietary and protected by copyright.
WOT