Data Recorders in Our Trucks?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
The technology has been there for a LONG while...
it's the cost factor that the mfg's probably are staying away from IMHO :-)
Who PAYS for the storage medium ?
($10 per car is cheap - but on a million cars - not so cheap...)
Who decides what data to save?
a media can store MILLIONS of records that save a few bits of data or only a few records if it saves millions of bits of data...
Even the Mainframe drives and huge LAN RAID devices on my servers run out of space eventually... :-) Just sent out an email this week to the group to "clean up" their junk before I do :-)
just my simple view of it from a data point of view...
it's the cost factor that the mfg's probably are staying away from IMHO :-)
Who PAYS for the storage medium ?
($10 per car is cheap - but on a million cars - not so cheap...)
Who decides what data to save?
a media can store MILLIONS of records that save a few bits of data or only a few records if it saves millions of bits of data...
Even the Mainframe drives and huge LAN RAID devices on my servers run out of space eventually... :-) Just sent out an email this week to the group to "clean up" their junk before I do :-)
just my simple view of it from a data point of view...
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
It would have to be some form of flash PROM memory. Enough to store all parameters for 5 thousand miles seems like it would be a lot, but maybe not. Your are right about the cost issue. That's one of the reasons why these trucks cost what they do.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,359
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From: Dallas
One thing for sure, since this recorder has the potential to threaten us in many ways from warranty issues to legal problems in the event of a fatal accident, we should figure out a way to prevent the recording. These recordings will never be used for our benefit. The only way they will be used is if Ford uses data to deny warranty claims and if the Courts/Police extract the data to build a case against us(when they don't have sufficient evidence otherwise.)
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Dallas
Originally Posted by bighoss550
joseph stalin would be proud
there is a limit to government involvement, after that its not really a free country
there is a limit to government involvement, after that its not really a free country
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 0
From: stoneboro, pa
Originally Posted by Choctaw Bob
That is why it is essential that we fight such things.
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 688
Likes: 3
From: Fairbanks, AK
Originally Posted by Choctaw Bob
That is why it is essential that we fight such things.
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
Or something like the flash pen in Men In Black 
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
Originally Posted by Choctaw Bob
That is why it is essential that we fight such things.
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
I am tempted to get my electronics buddy to soder up a rig that would attach a capacitor (like a camera flash) to a plug that fits the port on the truck. If I was sure it would fry everything I would keep it for an emergency.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,359
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From: Dallas
Better yet is to find out where the info is stored and cut the input wire or unplug it. A wiring diagram and a list of the functions of everything would be helpful. I'll bet that it is a seperate module about the size of a medium size relay. I also bet it is somewhere unlikely to be severely damaged in a crash like the very back of the cab. The PCM, where it is located would likely be damaged beyond recovery in an accident.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by SBV45
You might have an idea there! Only to be done after the big crash if you are able. The same code that detects the "event" could be triggered to "flash" everything after the event so you don't disable the airbag system. But then if the federalies found a trace of the poison pill they might be a tad (oh, I can't say that word).
Make it so at pre set G-load it initiates an "clear all prompt". Take the human out of the loop.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
Originally Posted by jdadamsjr
Well,
if it's YOUR truck... they may be "that way"
but they don't have legal grounds to do anything about it....
if it's YOUR truck... they may be "that way"
but they don't have legal grounds to do anything about it....
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,359
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From: Dallas
Originally Posted by SBV45
They can put the screws to you for modding the emissions. What's to stop them from penalizing you for tampering with the safety and restraint system. I don't think it's right. But the government does a lot of things not right.