What do you think about "Drive by Wire?" Good/Bad/Death Trap Waiting to happen
08-17-18, 02:03 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
What do you think about "Drive by Wire?" Good/Bad/Death Trap Waiting to happen
Recently we had a post about someone's Brake Pump Module (Brake Booster) going out. From his post, he said his mechanic told him the electronics stopped working and he shared a story where he lost all his brakes. Luckily he survived without an accident.
Now and days almost all new cars are "Drive By Wire" meaning you push buttons instead of moving levers to make them work. An example are cars who have dials or buttons for putting the car in gear. The dial isn't really attached to the transmission shifter, it is just a button that tells the computer to switch into drive.
Another example goes back to the old days when you would step on the gas pedal which was attached to a wire and then to the throttle. As you pushed down harder the throttle would open more via cable. Now if you look under your hood, it is rare to see a throttle wire, since new cars use a rheostat switch to determine how hard you are pushing down on the pedal.
Do these advancements in technology make you feels safer, or do you think they are less safe?
Now and days almost all new cars are "Drive By Wire" meaning you push buttons instead of moving levers to make them work. An example are cars who have dials or buttons for putting the car in gear. The dial isn't really attached to the transmission shifter, it is just a button that tells the computer to switch into drive.
Another example goes back to the old days when you would step on the gas pedal which was attached to a wire and then to the throttle. As you pushed down harder the throttle would open more via cable. Now if you look under your hood, it is rare to see a throttle wire, since new cars use a rheostat switch to determine how hard you are pushing down on the pedal.
Do these advancements in technology make you feels safer, or do you think they are less safe?
08-17-18, 05:17 PM
#2
The drive by wire systems can be more safe. If there is a failure in the system of any kind the car will go into disable mode and allow it to safely slow to a stop. A broken cable or hard linkage and there is no safe way out.
Or fractured brake hose no brakes.
It it is interesting how much care to detail there is to have the computer mimic the feel of manual systems. Throttle pedal feels like the wire. I have a Cadillac ELR and the electric motor gives the feel of gas even with a creep at 2 mph with foot off the pedal like with gas but totally unnecessary and imitation with electric. Feels “right” though. Tesla does same but allows the gas car mimic to be turned off if desired.
Or fractured brake hose no brakes.
It it is interesting how much care to detail there is to have the computer mimic the feel of manual systems. Throttle pedal feels like the wire. I have a Cadillac ELR and the electric motor gives the feel of gas even with a creep at 2 mph with foot off the pedal like with gas but totally unnecessary and imitation with electric. Feels “right” though. Tesla does same but allows the gas car mimic to be turned off if desired.
08-17-18, 06:09 PM
#3
Just look at Toyota. They had accelerator issues with cables. They had accelerator issues with the drive by wire. It shows issues are possible either way. So looking at history, I don't think it matters which system.
08-17-18, 06:20 PM
#4
Lexus Champion
Even airplanes fly by wire. So what is MTBF between two system? Since there is no perfect system in the world in anything, I'd go for drive by wire' over old method.
08-17-18, 08:34 PM
#5
Another example goes back to the old days when you would step on the gas pedal which was attached to a wire and then to the throttle. As you pushed down harder the throttle would open more via cable. Now if you look under your hood, it is rare to see a throttle wire, since new cars use a rheostat switch to determine how hard you are pushing down on the pedal.
08-18-18, 07:04 AM
#6
As "Htony notes above, airplanes use this technology which in the business is called "fly by wire"..., I was part of in my previous life. All military and commercial airplanes use it as the weight reduction is huge by trading hydraulics for wire!! GE when they were in the defense business, implemented this "full authority" digital technology first for the F-18A in the late 70's - which used 4 computers made uniquely for this use and environment. Why 4?, for "redundancy" - if one crapped out the system operated perfectly with three, then two and finally one.
Similar system could be implemented in cars, however, only needing "2" paths - one quits, second takes up the load perfectly and makes the vehicle perfectly operable until getting it repaired. Two path redundancy when on the ground would seem to fit, however, when at 50,000 feet at mach 2 or better, 4 paths were judged needed, however, do believe there are some systems flying today that are now "triple redundant".
Similar system could be implemented in cars, however, only needing "2" paths - one quits, second takes up the load perfectly and makes the vehicle perfectly operable until getting it repaired. Two path redundancy when on the ground would seem to fit, however, when at 50,000 feet at mach 2 or better, 4 paths were judged needed, however, do believe there are some systems flying today that are now "triple redundant".
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JohnnyCake (08-18-18)
08-20-18, 09:57 AM
#7
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Another benefit of drive by wire is now we can have self driving cars. Since all the components are computer run, a computer can run all of them with the proper input
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08-20-18, 04:09 PM
#8
Lexus Test Driver
Drive by wire is excellent!!!
can be easily calibrated
never stretches like a throttle cable
controls heat and cold without cables (heater core valve)
i would be just fine with no steering column...and no brake MC.
can be easily calibrated
never stretches like a throttle cable
controls heat and cold without cables (heater core valve)
i would be just fine with no steering column...and no brake MC.
08-22-18, 11:04 AM
#9
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Since we are in the infant stage of "drive by wire" and "self driving cars", the technology is not very well protected. Are their any fears your can could get Malware/Virus and you could lose control of your car?
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