Vehicle Overlay System Specification

Home / Vehicle Overlay System / Vehicle Overlay System Specification

Vehicle Overlay System (VOS)

The Universal Retrofit for Modern Mobility

Vehicle Overlay System (VOS) is an open-source, AGPL-3.0+ specification for a universal retrofit intelligence layer that adds secure computing, connectivity, artificial intelligence, diagnostics, networking, satellite communication, and vehicle-to-everything capabilities to existing vehicles.

VOS is designed to operate above existing vehicle systems without replacing or modifying safety-critical factory controls. The system provides a modular overlay that can be installed across different vehicle types and generations while preserving the vehicle’s original braking, steering, throttle, and safety systems.

Specification Goals

VOS is designed to:

Modernize existing vehicles without requiring replacement.
Provide a standardized retrofit architecture for vehicles of different manufacturers and model years.
Provide local and offline artificial intelligence capabilities.
Provide secure vehicle connectivity and independent vehicle networking.
Support terrestrial and satellite connectivity through provider-neutral interfaces.
Provide secure passenger and guest hotspot access.
Provide vehicle diagnostics and predictive maintenance.
Support vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.
Provide encrypted personal and vehicle data storage.
Support portable user identity and personalization.
Provide secure software and firmware updates.
Enable an open and permission-controlled vehicle application ecosystem.
Preserve strict separation from safety-critical vehicle controls.
Support individual vehicles, commercial vehicles, fleets, emergency vehicles, and other mobile platforms.

Core Architecture

VOS uses a layered modular architecture that separates physical vehicle integration, connectivity, computing, artificial intelligence, applications, security, and user services.

Each core module operates independently through defined interfaces and permissions. Modules may communicate through authenticated service interfaces without requiring direct access to unrelated vehicle systems.

The architecture must support graceful degradation so that individual services can fail without causing failure of unrelated vehicle functions.

Core Modules

Vehicle Overlay Hardware Module

The Vehicle Overlay Hardware Module provides the physical computing and communication layer for the VOS system.

The module shall provide:

Edge computing capability.
Vehicle interface connectivity.
OBD-II integration where available.
CAN connectivity.
GNSS positioning.
Cellular connectivity.
Wi-Fi networking.
Optional satellite connectivity.
Secure onboard storage.
Hardware-backed cryptographic key storage.
Secure power management.
System monitoring.
Hardware watchdog functionality.
Physical service and maintenance interfaces.

The hardware overlay must operate independently of the vehicle’s original safety-critical computing systems.

Universal Vehicle Interface Module

The Universal Vehicle Interface Module provides a standardized method for communicating with different vehicle platforms.

The module shall support:

OBD-II communication.
CAN data acquisition.
Vehicle-specific adapters.
Commercial and industrial vehicle interfaces.
Electric vehicle interfaces.
Vehicle data normalization.
Read-only vehicle telemetry by default.
Capability discovery.
Vehicle compatibility detection.
Permission-controlled vehicle data access.

Vehicle-specific differences must be abstracted through a common data model so that higher-level VOS applications do not require manufacturer-specific implementations.

Vehicle Data and Diagnostics Module

The Vehicle Data and Diagnostics Module collects, normalizes, interprets, and stores permitted vehicle telemetry.

The module shall support:

Engine diagnostics.
Transmission diagnostics.
Battery monitoring.
Charging information.
Fuel information.
Temperature monitoring.
Sensor data.
Fault-code interpretation.
Maintenance tracking.
Service interval monitoring.
Vehicle health reporting.
Historical diagnostic records.
Predictive maintenance analysis.

The module must distinguish between observed vehicle information and inferred diagnostic conclusions.

Connectivity Module

The Connectivity Module provides persistent and adaptive communication capabilities.

The module shall support:

Cellular connectivity.
Wi-Fi connectivity.
Network bridging.
Multi-network routing.
Automatic connection failover.
Signal-quality monitoring.
Local caching.
Offline operation.
Encrypted network tunnels.
Network policy enforcement.

Connectivity must be provider-neutral and must not require dependence on a single commercial network.

Satellite Connectivity Abstraction Module

The Satellite Connectivity Abstraction Module provides a provider-neutral interface for satellite communications.

The module shall support:

Satellite connectivity providers.
Satellite terminals.
Satellite communication gateways.
Automatic terrestrial-to-satellite failover.
Satellite-aware routing.
Emergency communication.
Offline message queuing.
Connectivity status reporting.

The abstraction layer must prevent VOS from becoming dependent on any individual satellite provider.

Vehicle Hotspot Module

The Vehicle Hotspot Module provides secure wireless Internet access for passengers, guests, and authorized devices.

The module shall support:

Independent vehicle Wi-Fi.
Guest networks.
Captive portals.
Temporary access credentials.
Session-based access.
Bandwidth controls.
Device authorization.
Network isolation.
Fleet access policies.
Usage monitoring.

Passenger networks must remain isolated from vehicle telemetry, diagnostics, system services, and safety-critical vehicle systems.

Edge Computing Module

The Edge Computing Module provides local processing and storage capabilities.

The module shall support:

Local computation.
Offline processing.
Local data caching.
Local service execution.
Local AI inference.
Local communications.
Service isolation.
Resource allocation.
Hardware health monitoring.

The vehicle must remain useful when external network connectivity is unavailable.

Local Vehicle Intelligence Module

The Local Vehicle Intelligence Module provides the vehicle with an offline-capable local intelligence layer.

The module shall support:

Local navigation.
Cached routing.
Voice interaction.
Vehicle diagnostics.
Maintenance assistance.
Network optimization.
Emergency fallback logic.
Local information retrieval.
Context-aware passenger services.

The module must provide graceful degradation when connectivity, positioning, or vehicle data becomes unavailable.

Artificial Intelligence Module

The Artificial Intelligence Module provides modular local AI capabilities.

AI services may include:

Navigation assistance.
Diagnostic analysis.
Predictive maintenance.
Network optimization.
Threat detection.
Voice assistance.
Passenger assistance.
Environmental interpretation.
Optional computer vision.
Fleet intelligence.
Vehicle data analysis.

AI models must operate under explicit permissions and must not be granted unrestricted access to vehicle systems.

The AI architecture shall support:

Local inference.
Offline inference.
Model versioning.
Model integrity verification.
Model permissions.
Model provenance.
Model isolation.
Model replacement.
Human override.
Confidence reporting.

Security Module

The Security Module provides system-wide security controls.

The module shall support:

Encryption at rest.
Encryption in transit.
Secure authentication.
Mutual service authentication.
Hardware-backed identity.
Secure boot.
Measured boot.
Key management.
Certificate management.
Access control.
Service isolation.
Intrusion detection.
Security logging.
Threat monitoring.

Security must follow a zero-trust architecture in which services and devices are not automatically trusted because they are operating inside the vehicle.

Vehicle Network Security Module

The Vehicle Network Security Module monitors and protects vehicle communication interfaces.

The module shall provide:

CAN traffic monitoring.
CAN anomaly detection.
Protocol validation.
Message filtering.
Network segmentation.
Unauthorized access detection.
Intrusion monitoring.
Event logging.
Security alerts.

Vehicle write access must be disabled by default.

Safety Isolation Module

The Safety Isolation Module establishes the architectural boundary between VOS and safety-critical vehicle systems.

VOS shall not control:

Braking.
Steering.
Throttle.
Airbag deployment.
Other safety-critical vehicle control functions.

Vehicle telemetry should be read-only unless a future explicitly authorized capability has undergone independent safety validation and appropriate isolation.

The system shall provide:

Hardware isolation.
Permission boundaries.
Communication filtering.
Watchdog protection.
Fail-safe behavior.
Emergency shutdown.
Restricted write capabilities.
Clear separation between informational and control functions.

No failure of VOS should cause a vehicle to lose its original safety functionality.

V2X Communication Module

The V2X Communication Module enables communication between vehicles, infrastructure, networks, and other participating systems.

The module shall support:

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
Vehicle-to-infrastructure communication.
Road hazard notifications.
Traffic information.
Emergency notifications.
Disaster communication.
Local mesh networking.
Decentralized message distribution.

V2X messages must be authenticated, validated, privacy-aware, and treated as untrusted external information.

Mesh Networking Module

The Mesh Networking Module provides decentralized communication when conventional infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable.

The module shall support:

Vehicle-to-vehicle mesh communication.
Local peer discovery.
Multi-hop communication.
Emergency messaging.
Disaster communication.
Local information sharing.
Network topology adaptation.
Store-and-forward messaging.

Mesh communication must not provide unauthorized access to vehicle systems.

Emergency and Rescue Module

The Emergency and Rescue Module provides communication and assistance during emergencies.

The module shall support:

Crash detection.
Sensor-based event detection.
Emergency alerts.
Emergency location reporting.
Satellite emergency communication.
Restricted emergency telemetry.
Emergency message queuing.
Safe-stop information.
Rescue coordination.

Emergency functions must remain independent from direct vehicle control.

Navigation Module

The Navigation Module provides local and connected navigation services.

The module shall support:

GPS and GNSS positioning.
Offline maps.
Cached maps.
Route planning.
Dynamic routing.
Traffic information.
Hazard information.
Network-aware routing.
Multi-modal route information.
Local route recovery when connectivity is unavailable.

Navigation services must continue operating with reduced functionality during network outages.

User Identity and Profile Module

The User Identity and Profile Module provides portable, encrypted user personalization.

The module shall support:

Encrypted user profiles.
Portable preferences.
Session authentication.
Cross-vehicle personalization.
User-controlled profile transfer.
Permission management.
Privacy controls.
Identity separation between users.

User profiles must not require centralized storage to provide basic functionality.

Personalization Module

The Personalization Module adapts the vehicle experience to authorized users.

Personalization may include:

Navigation preferences.
Audio preferences.
Interface preferences.
Communication preferences.
Environmental preferences.
AI interaction preferences.
Accessibility preferences.

Optional biometric identification must be explicitly enabled by the user and must not be required for normal VOS operation.

Environmental Monitoring Module

The Environmental Monitoring Module monitors vehicle cabin and surrounding environmental conditions using available sensors.

The module may support:

Carbon dioxide monitoring.
Volatile organic compound monitoring.
Particulate matter monitoring.
Temperature monitoring.
Humidity monitoring.
Air-quality alerts.
Occupant comfort information.

Environmental data must remain subject to user privacy controls.

Vehicle Environment Intelligence Module

The Vehicle Environment Intelligence Module combines permitted vehicle, environmental, navigation, and user-context information.

The module may provide:

Context-aware assistance.
Adaptive passenger services.
Environmental alerts.
Comfort recommendations.
Route-aware information.
Driver fatigue alerts.
Local safety notifications.

The module must not interpret contextual intelligence as authorization to control safety-critical vehicle systems.

Fleet Intelligence Module

The Fleet Intelligence Module provides coordination and optimization for multiple VOS-equipped vehicles.

The module shall support:

Fleet monitoring.
Route coordination.
Route balancing.
Vehicle health comparison.
Maintenance planning.
Hazard sharing.
Resource optimization.
Fleet communications.
Multi-agent optimization.

Experimental capabilities such as vehicle platooning must remain isolated from ordinary VOS functionality and require independent safety validation.

Electric Vehicle and Energy Module

The Electric Vehicle and Energy Module provides optional energy-management functionality.

The module may support:

Electric vehicle telemetry.
Charging information.
Smart charging.
Energy prediction.
Charging optimization.
Vehicle-to-grid coordination.
Fleet energy management.
Demand response integration.

Energy functions must respect vehicle, charger, grid, and user permissions.

Application Ecosystem Module

The Application Ecosystem Module provides a controlled environment for third-party VOS applications.

The module shall support:

Sandboxed applications.
Permission-controlled APIs.
Application identity.
Application signing.
Application verification.
Resource limits.
Application isolation.
Application removal.
User-controlled permissions.

Applications must not receive unrestricted vehicle access.

Developer API Module

The Developer API Module provides standardized interfaces for VOS applications and integrations.

The module shall support:

Authenticated APIs.
Permission-controlled telemetry.
Service APIs.
Event-driven communication.
Local APIs.
Remote APIs where authorized.
Application lifecycle management.
Vehicle capability discovery.

API permissions must be explicit, granular, auditable, and revocable.

Software and Firmware Update Module

The Software and Firmware Update Module provides secure lifecycle management.

The module shall support:

Signed updates.
Firmware verification.
Software verification.
Secure distribution.
Staged deployment.
Rollback protection.
Recovery mechanisms.
Version management.
Update authorization.
Offline update workflows.

An unsuccessful update must not prevent recovery of the VOS system.

Data Governance Module

The Data Governance Module defines how VOS collects, stores, processes, shares, and deletes data.

The module shall support:

Data minimization.
Local-first storage.
Encryption.
User consent.
Data access controls.
Data export.
Data deletion.
Data retention policies.
Audit records.
Provenance tracking.

Users must retain meaningful control over data generated by their VOS installation.

Audit and Provenance Module

The Audit and Provenance Module records important system, security, AI, and data events.

The module shall support:

Event logging.
Configuration history.
AI model provenance.
Data provenance.
Software provenance.
Security events.
Permission changes.
Update history.
Administrative actions.

Audit information must be protected against unauthorized modification.

Optional Plugin Modules

Optional plugins extend VOS without changing the core architecture.

Advanced Computer Vision Plugin

Provides optional visual perception capabilities for:

Road-scene interpretation.
Object detection.
Parking assistance information.
Environmental recognition.
Cabin monitoring.
Hazard classification.

The plugin must not independently control braking, steering, or throttle.

Driver Fatigue Plugin

Provides optional driver-state analysis using permitted sensors.

Capabilities may include:

Fatigue detection.
Attention alerts.
Long-duration driving warnings.
Rest recommendations.

The plugin must operate as an advisory system.

Advanced Predictive Maintenance Plugin

Extends vehicle diagnostics with:

Failure prediction.
Component health modeling.
Maintenance forecasting.
Service prioritization.
Fleet maintenance analytics.

Satellite Emergency Plugin

Provides enhanced emergency communication using supported satellite providers.

Capabilities may include:

Emergency message transmission.
Location transmission.
Store-and-forward emergency messaging.
Emergency status reporting.

Fleet Coordination Plugin

Provides advanced fleet optimization including:

Fleet routing.
Dispatch coordination.
Resource allocation.
Multi-agent planning.
Fleet hazard propagation.

Experimental Vehicle Control Research Plugin

Provides a controlled research framework for future vehicle-control experimentation.

This plugin must remain disabled by default and must not be considered part of the standard VOS safety model.

Any implementation involving braking, steering, throttle, or other safety-critical controls requires independent safety engineering, validation, hardware isolation, and regulatory compliance before deployment.

Energy Grid Integration Plugin

Extends electric vehicle capabilities with:

Grid participation.
Demand response.
Advanced charging optimization.
Energy market integration.
Fleet energy coordination.

Advanced Biometric Plugin

Provides optional biometric personalization.

Possible capabilities include:

Face recognition.
Voice recognition.
User authentication.
Personalized configuration.

All biometric functionality must be opt-in, locally controlled where practical, encrypted, and removable.

Decentralized Identity Plugin

Provides optional decentralized identity functionality.

Capabilities may include:

Portable vehicle identity.
Portable user credentials.
Verifiable credentials.
Cross-vehicle authentication.
User-controlled identity sharing.

Disaster Communications Plugin

Provides expanded communication capabilities during infrastructure failures.

Capabilities may include:

Emergency mesh networking.
Store-and-forward messaging.
Local community communication.
Disaster information distribution.
Satellite fallback.

Developer Sandbox Plugin

Provides a controlled environment for testing experimental applications and integrations.

The plugin shall provide:

Application sandboxing.
Simulated vehicle data.
Permission testing.
API testing.
Resource restrictions.
Development-only identities.

Experimental applications must not receive production vehicle access without explicit authorization.

Modularity Requirements

Every VOS module must have:

A defined purpose.
A defined interface.
Explicit permissions.
Independent configuration.
Independent failure handling.
Security boundaries.
Data ownership rules.
Version identification.
Dependency declarations.
Audit requirements.

Core modules must remain functional without optional plugins.

Optional plugins must never silently become required dependencies for core functionality.

Modules must be replaceable without requiring redesign of unrelated modules.

Specification Branding License (SBL)

Standard

Fully AGPL-3.0+ compliant system
Copyleft enforced for network deployments
Required attribution:
- Roxanne Ardary
- https://www.roxanneardary.com/

Optional

Specification Branding License (SBL)
- Attribution-free commercial deployment
- Pricing based on scale, usage, and deployment scope
- https://roxanneardary.com/vehicle-overlay-system/

License & Notice Requirements

Vehicle Overlay System (VOS) is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0+).

By contributing to this project, you agree that your contributions will also be released under this license.

Please note the following:

All contributions must comply with the AGPL-3.0+ terms.
Under Section 7 of the license, all redistributions, forks and derivative works must preserve attribution to: Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com.
Vehicle Overlay System (VOS) specifications are free to use with attribution. A Specification Branding License can be negotiated upon request.
The project’s notice.md file tracks attribution requirements and contributor acknowledgments. Any update that adds new contributors or modifies attribution should also update notice.md.
When submitting a pull request, ensure that any new files maintain the attribution headers where applicable.
Network-deployed versions of this software must also remain fully AGPL-3.0+ compliant, including exposure of source code modifications when applicable under the license.

For full legal details, please refer to the AGPL-3.0+ license and the project’s notice.md file.

Notice – Vehicle Overlay System (VOS)

Attribution Requirement: Under Section 7 of the AGPL 3.0+ license, all redistributions, forks, and derivative works, including network-deployed versions of this project, must provide attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com.

Contributors

This file tracks contributors and their specific contributions to the project.

Roxanne Ardary, roxanneardary.com – April 16, 2026
Created the repository for Vehicle Overlay System (VOS). Designed the core architecture for a universal retrofit vehicle intelligence overlay system.
[Add other contributors here] – [Date]
[Describe contribution in one sentence]

License – Vehicle Overlay System (VOS)

This repository is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0+).

Key Points:

You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code.
All redistributions, forks, and derivative works or network-deployed versions must also be licensed under AGPL-3.0+ and provide attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com as required under Section 7 of the license.
The software is provided “as is,” without warranty of any kind.

For the full license text, see GNU AGPL-3.0 License.