Toyota protects electronic gas pedal
As it is known, Toyota withdrew 7.6 million of sold cars from the markets, and also suspended sales and production of eight models. The problem is with the foot pad, which can block the gas pedal in the depressed position. In most cars, the force of the brake pedal exceeds the force of the gas pedal, that is, if you press them out at maximum speed at the same time, the car will stop. Here the brake did not work.
According to some experts, Toyota’s problems are caused by a fundamental reason: the ubiquitous transition of the automotive industry to electronic systems, even in critical functional units.
Like many other manufacturers, Toyota has recently switched to the electronic accelerator system, that is, the pressure on the gas pedal is measured using a sensor that transmits a signal to the engine management system.
"Electronic pedals" have become commonplace in the modern automotive industry and almost completely supplanted the outdated hydraulic system. It is believed that electronics provides more accurate metering and responds better to control.
')
At the same time, brake systems in almost all cars are still controlled by mechanics: the brake shoe is still physically connected to the wheel, and the control comes directly from the brake pedal through the hydraulic system. Engineers are still unable to come to a consensus whether to switch to electronic sensors in the brake system.
According to Toyota, the electronic system is theoretically more secure, and the problem with the gas pedal has “mechanical” reasons: condensation from the heaters stuck to the pedal and it could stick to the carpet at the moment of maximum pressure. But independent experts rightly note that the problem lies precisely in the computer control system, in which there was no emergency braking in this situation. That is, the brake pedal simply did not work when the accelerator sensor commanded the car to accelerate.
Actually, Toyota itself indirectly acknowledged the error of programmers. An additional protective system will be installed on all recalled cars, which will stop the engine if the sensors register the force on the brake pedal, but the deceleration does not occur.
This whole story raises new problems for designers and programmers who are developing control systems for cars. It is clear that problems with electronics and computer glitches will occur more and more often.
Glitch cars Toyota has already caused at least 19 deaths. The commercial implications of the story for a company are hard to overestimate. To date, the damage is estimated at $ 500 million, and this incident will erode people's confidence in this brand for the years ahead.
According to some experts, Toyota’s problems are caused by a fundamental reason: the ubiquitous transition of the automotive industry to electronic systems, even in critical functional units.
Like many other manufacturers, Toyota has recently switched to the electronic accelerator system, that is, the pressure on the gas pedal is measured using a sensor that transmits a signal to the engine management system.
"Electronic pedals" have become commonplace in the modern automotive industry and almost completely supplanted the outdated hydraulic system. It is believed that electronics provides more accurate metering and responds better to control.
')
At the same time, brake systems in almost all cars are still controlled by mechanics: the brake shoe is still physically connected to the wheel, and the control comes directly from the brake pedal through the hydraulic system. Engineers are still unable to come to a consensus whether to switch to electronic sensors in the brake system.
According to Toyota, the electronic system is theoretically more secure, and the problem with the gas pedal has “mechanical” reasons: condensation from the heaters stuck to the pedal and it could stick to the carpet at the moment of maximum pressure. But independent experts rightly note that the problem lies precisely in the computer control system, in which there was no emergency braking in this situation. That is, the brake pedal simply did not work when the accelerator sensor commanded the car to accelerate.
Actually, Toyota itself indirectly acknowledged the error of programmers. An additional protective system will be installed on all recalled cars, which will stop the engine if the sensors register the force on the brake pedal, but the deceleration does not occur.
This whole story raises new problems for designers and programmers who are developing control systems for cars. It is clear that problems with electronics and computer glitches will occur more and more often.
Glitch cars Toyota has already caused at least 19 deaths. The commercial implications of the story for a company are hard to overestimate. To date, the damage is estimated at $ 500 million, and this incident will erode people's confidence in this brand for the years ahead.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/82744/
All Articles