The amount of computer software in modern vehicles

Submitted: Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 08:31
ThreadID: 76352 Views:3273 Replies:7 FollowUps:8
This Thread has been Archived
This story may be of interest to those bemoaning how much electronics is in modern vehicles ....

http://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/advanced-cars/this-car-runs-on-code/0
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:19

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:19
Here it is as a clickable link

This Car Runs on Code
AnswerID: 406107

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:25

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:25
Some quotes from this article -

"In 2005, Toyota voluntarily recalled 160 000 of its 2004 and some early 2005 model year Prius hybrids because of a software problem that caused the car to suddenly stall or shut down. The time needed to repair the software was estimated at about 90 minutes per vehicle, or about 240 000 person-hours. Even at cost, that is a lot of money."

"Last year alone, there were several automotive recall notices related to software problems. For example, in May 2008, Chrysler recalled 24 535 of its 2006 Jeep Commanders because of a problem in the automatic-transmission software. Then in June, Volkswagen recalled about 4000 of its 2008 Passats and Passat Wagons and about 2500 Tiguans for a problem in the engine-control-module software that could cause an unexpected increase in engine revolutions per minute when the air-conditioning is turned on. In November, GM recalled 12 662 of its 2009 Cadillac CTS vehicles for a software problem within the passenger-sensing system that could disable the front passenger air bag when it should be enabled or enable it when it should be disabled. "



But this is the part that people who have never been involved in design of complex systems need to be aware of -
"It is a tribute to the automotive software developers, though, that there aren’t many more recalls, given all the software in cars."
AnswerID: 406109

Reply By: OzTroopy - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:32

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:32
"Most of the time the air bag system is just monitoring the car’s condition, but if the air bags are triggered by, say, a multiple vehicle collision, the software in the ECU controlling their deployment has 15 to 40 milliseconds to determine ”which air bags are activated and in which order,” says Broy."


Now when my desk computer software runs slow and doesnt process things at the speed the sales blurb said it would ... I can just go and make a cup of coffee or mow the lawn ... until its back up to speed.

Yet with my car ... it would seem my only option is to have better medical cover .....


Sad isnt it ....
AnswerID: 406111

Follow Up By: DIO - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:46

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:46
....”which air bags are activated and in which order,”

Think you'll find that the computer will know which seats are occupied (by seat belt useage) and activate those bags.
0
FollowupID: 675791

Follow Up By: OzTroopy - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:02

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:02
Now when my desk computer software runs slow AND DOESNT PROCESS THINGS AT THE SPEED THE SALES BLURB SAID IT WOULD ... I can just go and make a cup of coffee or mow the lawn ... until its back up to speed.

Yet with my car ... it would seem my only option is to have better medical cover .....


Sad isnt it ....


Its not just the airbags ...... It includes all those interfering suspension systems and braking systems that had better not EVER EVER EVER be proven to be at fault .... otherwise govts and their legislation and vehicle manufacturers are going to have a sad day in the courts.

Ahhhhh silly me ..... to think that responsibility would ever be shouldered by those organisations ..... http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-rolleyes010.gif

Electronic trickery and cleverness certainly has its place in a motorvehicle and even a dinosaur like me appreciates SOME of it .... but not when it takes general control of motor vehicle out of my hands ... yet still leaves me legally responsible for the consequences of a vehicle incident caused by a faulty (but undiagnosable after the incident) electronic component.
0
FollowupID: 675794

Follow Up By: _gmd_pps - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:47

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:47
Not seat belt usage that would be bad design.
My truck has a weight sensor in the seat and knows if somebody sits there
even without seat belt on.

have fun
gmd
0
FollowupID: 675801

Reply By: oldfart1953 - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:59

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:59
Hi,
I can remember some of the advertising blurb that came out with the release of the VL Commodore....apparantly it (the VL) had more computing power that the first lunar landing module.....


CU down the road

Tony H
AnswerID: 406117

Follow Up By: _gmd_pps - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:49

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:49
this is true for many things today
It is amazing how they landed the thing on the moon given the state of computers at the time. I remember well when I built my first Z80 board
and that was well after the moon landing.
have fun
gmd
0
FollowupID: 675802

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 22:06

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 22:06
Maybe that's the reason they got the thing to the moon and back
They relied a little less on computers and a little more on human ingenuity

Cheers Pop
0
FollowupID: 675911

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 at 08:46

Saturday, Feb 27, 2010 at 08:46
....unless they never did land on the moon. :)

Andrew
0
FollowupID: 675965

Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:38

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 10:38
Complex - yes.

100 million lines of code - I do not believe it.

Sounds like a journo having no idea of the subject they are writing about and interviewing their own keyboard !

KK
AnswerID: 406127

Follow Up By: _gmd_pps - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 11:02

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 11:02
compiled to machine code, maybe or storage in byte for the code
My truck has 6500 sensors/signals readable through my Tech II diagnostic computer. Assume you need 100 lines of machine code per sensor (not much though) just to read it and transmit it over the CanDi network then you already have 6 500 000 lines of code and nothing is happening yet, only lights are blinking.

ECU, BCU, TCU, TCCU, HVAC only to name a few of the systems in my truck with rather complex function and that does not include satellite navigation, remote garage control, compass, thermometer and other convenience systems.

have fun
gmd
0
FollowupID: 675805

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 18:56

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 18:56
And if half a percent are faulty thats a big stuff up.








0
FollowupID: 675887

Reply By: Member - Wayne B (NSW) - Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 22:19

Friday, Feb 26, 2010 at 22:19
Yer that's why I just bought a HJ80. I can FIX it when something goes wrong.
With the new vehicles you have not got a chance. Even the dealers are struggling with the technology

My last New car was a 2006 xtrail which is also not over complicated. 77000km and no problems so far.
The new CDI Diesels are great to drive but don't get dirty fuel unless you have very deep pockets.
Its a worry I tell you.

Wayne B
AnswerID: 406232

Reply By: Brian (Montrose, Vic.) - Sunday, Feb 28, 2010 at 10:36

Sunday, Feb 28, 2010 at 10:36
What was that joke about if "Microsoft built cars....."?
AnswerID: 406467

Sponsored Links