Friday, April 30th, 2010

Car Electronics

Cranking Model T Ben Shahn, photographer. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF33-006670-M3 DLC.

The recent recalls involving uncontrolled acceleration in some models of Toyota vehicles has called attention to a little-considered area of car design -- their electronic control systems. Although car manufacturer Toyota has said that the problems appear to have been caused by a sticking component in the gas pedal, some outside investigators are examining the computers and programming that help operate the cars as well. In this segment, we'll talk about car electronics, and how to engineer computer-controlled systems to improve safety. When you put your car in drive and press the pedal to the metal, how much of what happens next is controlled by a computer, rather than by old-fashioned rods, gears, and valves? Should it be that way?