Your car computer may kill you.
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Badcat
Well-known member
Interesting article. We have a 2009 Avalon that needs to go in for the gas pedal mod or maybe a complete reprogram who knows....scary to think a messed up line of code or errant pulse could cause a wreck.
C&C
Well-known member
Another 'alarmest' reporter writing a story to try to keep everyone in panic mode. How many millions of vehicles have drive by wire, how many malfunctions have there been (remember the brakes still work) and let's not forget that an occassional throttle cable can also bind-up somewhere and cause the same thing. Just another grandstander trying to get on the pulpit and keep America scared to go out and live. JMO
FJRay
Well-known member
Not to say there aren't any problems but the media is sure having a ball with this one. I have seen lawsuit adds on TV already. I sure think there are bigger problems to b solved but won't get on the soap box.
Every Airbus starting with the A320 is fly-by-wire. And once they took care of that little glitch causing the Paris Airshow crash, they've been relatively successful. (There are a few anomaly events, in there, but hey...) The 777 is completely fly-by-wire with a true triply redundant flight control computer system. Boeing had that sorted out pretty well from the beginning. The new 787 has electric brakes (brake-by-wire?).
The new Yamahas and some others now have throttle-by-wire.
Surprised it took this long for the auto makers took to get on board (and hence, screw it up).
Sometimes a cable and carbs doesn't look so bad.
The new Yamahas and some others now have throttle-by-wire.
Surprised it took this long for the auto makers took to get on board (and hence, screw it up).
Sometimes a cable and carbs doesn't look so bad.
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Silver Penguin
Silver Penguin
Just pondering the thought....... if a Prius was in the HOV lane and the gas pedal got stuck, or acceleration applied..... would the car go any faster? I thought that Prius's in the HOV lane were restricted to 30mph or something, and staying closer than an FJR width to the yellow lines.
I've always liked Dvorak. He's cranky!
Being in the computer business since before the IBM PC days, he's got a better handle on the complexities of these systems than the typical network talking head. Add to that his inherent skepticism of marketing hype and you have a pretty good recipe for a reporter less likely to get the wool pulled over his eyes than the typical media lapdog, podcaster or fanboy.
In Toyota's case there's a lot of info building to make a case for their knowing and their risk-management teams choosing to not resolve the faults as the cheaper course of action.
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I happen to be in favor of drive by wire, if done correctly.
Mercedes Benz have systems in place that can help you text while driving in southern California :blink:
If everyone had this it would make it easier to share lanes too.
Mercedes Benz have systems in place that can help you text while driving in southern California :blink:
If everyone had this it would make it easier to share lanes too.
wfooshee
O, Woe is me!!
When you write a piece of code, you have to account for every possible circumstance, not just the designed conditions. The Airbus is a great example. A low-altitude slow pass, and the computer wanted to land the plane. It would not apply power, it would not pull up. It was going to land, damnitalltohell. The software had no allowance for a show-off low-speed pass at an air show.
Throttle by wire in a car or bike should be a lot simpler, but as Dvorak says, if something outside the vehicle can initiate a response, there might be a problem.
Throttle by wire in a vehicle has no real advantage over a cable system as far as the manufacturer is concerned, other than being easier to design and assemble. No cable to figure out how to route, and nothing to put together other than an electrical plug. If it's actually more expensive, sell it as high-tech ooh ahh and people eat it up.
Throttle by wire in a car or bike should be a lot simpler, but as Dvorak says, if something outside the vehicle can initiate a response, there might be a problem.
Throttle by wire in a vehicle has no real advantage over a cable system as far as the manufacturer is concerned, other than being easier to design and assemble. No cable to figure out how to route, and nothing to put together other than an electrical plug. If it's actually more expensive, sell it as high-tech ooh ahh and people eat it up.
Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
The advantage of throttle by wire that I know of is for traction control. If you lose traction because of slippery conditions the computer can actually back off the throttle even though the driver is still pushing the pedal down.
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wfooshee
O, Woe is me!!
True, I didn't consider that, but traction control can be effected by reducing fuel spray, too.
Bustanut joker
Well-known member
I like pie..
Checkswrecks
Well-known member
Set the Airbus accident aside. The crew knew enough to inhibit some of the protections for the low flyby they wanted to do for the show, resulting in unintentionally flying into the trees. Totally different than what Toyota's facing.
Yes, the press is having a field day. I feel for Toyota and we have two cars in the family on the recall list. But novel, new and never before? All vehicles have their problems, some bigger than others.
Anybody remember the Firestone tire problems?
Reverse lock-outs allowing cars to slip into gear?
Etc
Yes, the press is having a field day. I feel for Toyota and we have two cars in the family on the recall list. But novel, new and never before? All vehicles have their problems, some bigger than others.
Anybody remember the Firestone tire problems?
Reverse lock-outs allowing cars to slip into gear?
Etc
johnny80s
Turtle Gears
BTW: Just downloaded the newest version of the server-side firmware and upgrades to various EFI maps for my car today! v1.4 of the Stage 1 & Stage 2 maps!
dcarver
Well-known member
The more I learn of computers, the less I trust.
The more I learn of humans, the less I trust.
What to do?
The more I learn of humans, the less I trust.
What to do?
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Rogue
Well-known member
That's just a hardware glitch, the type of driver who would buy a Prius is restricted to 30mph or less.
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Crash Cash
Well-known member
I'm sure you know who Steve Wozniak is then... Wozniak cites 'scary' Prius acceleration problem
There was a comment he made on slashdot discussing how to make it happen, and that Toyota basically told him "go away kid, ya bother me" and even after a lot of trying, he couldn't get anyone to take him seriously.
The Woz is the REAL genius behind Apple.
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