Tesla, a good IOT Case Study

John MathonWSO2, VP Enterprise Product

StrategyMarch 20, 2014

IOT Features of Tesla model S

1) The Tesla has a persistent 3G cell connection to the internet that is paid for gratis by Tesla. This makes it one of the “Internet of Things” It also has Wifi, bluetooth and garage door opener built in.

2) The car has an API! Tesla API

3) The car can provide Geolocation information

4) The car has attitude (angle) and various other sensors for acceleration

5) The car has a camera (in the back)

6) The car could be lethal to both passengers and others if it were hacked inappropriately

IOT Features of Tesla model S

7) Tesla has reportedly formed an early warning threat detection and reward system to reward hackers who discover vulnerabilities in the cars security

8) The car can detect the presence of a key fob within a small distance of the vehicles perimeter

9)Virtually all aspects of the cars functionality are digitized and theoretically available for inspection and utilization including energy use, positions of wheels, brakes and emergency brake, climate system, seat positions, mirrors, door handles …

IOT Features of Tesla model S

10) The car has an “App framework” that allows developers to build apps to run in the car. This will be enabled in late 2014 with the addition of a Chrome browser and android app compatibility. Currently there are only a couple internet music apps that are built into the car.

11) The car has a browser with geolocation capability and a map application

12) The car has a horn, lights for external signaling that can be controlled remotely

IOT Features of Tesla model S

13) The car can be woken up from a sleep low energy state over the air and booted up at any time needed to query or operate the car

14) The car can take in new versions of its software and firmware and upgrade itself automatically.

15) the car has a 17″ touchscreen console for controlling all functions and a video console for the drivers speedometer and other driving information

IOT Features of Tesla model S

16) The car has a smart charging system that can adapt to almost any electrical source that is plugged into the car. Adapters for things like RV hookups, Clothes dryer plugs as well as standard 110V and 220V configurations are supported. The car can also accept up to 500Amps of current in DC mode for quick charging. It has the ability to regulate the power consumed to the capability of the line it is connected to and to reduce consumption as the batteries can accept as well as allowing the user to designate lower power levels and even a timer to control when it starts charging.

Functionality of the Car Itself

Functionality of the Tesla Model S

o The slowest version of the Tesla model S is as fast or faster than any luxury sedan in the world.

o The performance version of the Tesla model S is as fast as any sports car available. The new D model has 2 motors, 4wheel drive and goes 0-60 in 4secs

o The Telsa Model S gets 90-100 MPG while capable of this kind of performance.

Safety

o Nobody has been seriously injured or killed in a Tesla yet

o NTSA gives the car its highest rating possible 5 stars but in fact the Tesla tested the safest ever recorded

o Reportedly the Tesla took more than the weight of 4 Tesla stacked on its roof before the crushing machine ran out of steam.

o the car reportedly broke the flipping machine as well

Range; Battery

o Range is between 150-400 miles depending on driving conditions and battery choice.

o The car can be recharged with almost any input from 110V to dryer plugs, RV plugs, standard J1772 plugs, NEMA standard plugs at 220V and different amperages in 4-30 hours depending on source.

o There are hundreds of Tesla supercharging stations around the country that will charge the car 50% in 20 minutes. These are placed strategically about 120 miles apart to insure any Tesla can traverse between any two supercharging stations. Charging is free at Tesla facilities.

o Tesla offers a battery lender program so that you can get a fresh battery in 90 seconds at stations.

Revolutionary Service

o The car has no belts, spark plugs, transmission fluids and far fewer moving parts subject to wear than an ICE (Internal combustion engine) leading to minimal maintenance cost leading some to argue the loss of millions of jobs in the ICE service industry.

o “Fueling” the car at home or at work or in garages could cause loss of millions of jobs at “liquid dinosaur” stations.

o The car can be upgraded online from Tesla with improvements and fixes. Fixes have included safety improvements, driving improvements as well as efficiency improvements and luxury features added after the fact for free by Tesla.

o Tesla supports an at home service option

Future

o Later in 2014 Tesla is planning on opening up the Android App capability allowing a diverse set of apps to operate in the car.

o The Tesla comes with an API: http://docs.timdorr.apiary.io/

o Functions available from the API include:

o Open and close the roof, start and stop charging, operate climate controls, find location, operate flashers, horn, open car or lock, pop the trunks

o Functions Available in documented API today:o Get operations:

o state of caro Location

o Set Operationso Horn, Lights flasho Charging

o Functions we know car has but aren’t part of documented API:

o Energy use, acceleration, angle, velocity

o Steering, braking, accelerator, Park reverse drive, power brake

o Camerao Sensors for proximityo Suspension Systemo Media, sound system, web

browser, bluetooth, wifi, homelink

o Seating position and control

Apps in the car (internal)

o The car comes with the following apps:o Navigationo Energyo Camerao Settings/Controlso Mediao Phoneo Calendaro Browsero Slackero TuneIn

o Potentially interesting apps not announced:o Wazeo Uber Driver o Pandora/Spotify/Audible/Shazam…o Parking paymento Yelpo Glympseo Enhanced Camera Appo Chargepointo Calculatoro Voice Messaging (Heytell)o Kayak

Potential Vulnerabilities

o Failure of Existing Appso unexpected behavior or distracting

behavioro Failure of New External Apps

o Unexpected behavior or distracting behavior

o API vulnerabilitieso Privacy issues around data

availabilityo Lack of 2 factor authentication

o Security Measureso Unknown what Tesla has

engineeredo Potential Problems

o Access to secure datao Unexpected behavior or

distracting behavioro Failure of onboard systemso Corruption, malware, spyingo Taking control of the car

Summary

o Good Pointso Environmental friendlyo Very Fast and fun to driveo Long rangeo Safest car ever builto No one ever injured or killedo Auto Update and upgradeo Minimal Maintenance / At homeo New Interface and usability benefitso Remote API/Operationo Supercharging networko Extended Warrantieso Persistent free data serviceo App integration and big screeno Spacious

o Bad Pointso Unknown vulnerabilities

Including the possibility of gaining control of the car, private information and causing accidents

o Can take 8 hours to charge

o New car unknowns

John Mathonjohnmathon.wordpress.com

twitter: @john_mathonDisclaimer: I own a Tesla