In this engaging conversation, Pete LeVasseur, maintainer of Eclipse uProtocol, shares his journey in automotive software development, highlighting the shift from hardware to software as a driving force in automation. He delves into the importance of an open communications framework, the role of diverse sensor technologies in safety, and the challenges of software distribution in modern vehicles. Additionally, Pete discusses the strategic adoption of Rust, emphasizing its benefits like memory safety, and how it integrates with existing languages in the automotive ecosystem.