March 25, 2013 at 3:29 am
In the UK I expect telematics to be widely adopted by the insurance industry. These telematic devices produce several "events" per second so 1 million events per user per day is a realistic figure as is 64Mb of data per user per day.
For the most part the data will be junk. I drive for about 3 hours a day so 21 hours worth of data will be useless other than to tell that my car stood still at a particular location.
I'm not sure how many vehicles there are active on the roads in the UK but the DVLA say that 28 million were registered last year.
If it becomes mandatory to have a telematics device in the vehicle that's about 1.8Pb of data that will have to be processed of which less than 0.3Pb will need to be retained. Not really that big in the grand scheme of things.
March 25, 2013 at 7:27 am
There was an interesting side note in Road and Track's review of the Tesla S this month.They'd found that the car was speed limited during a performance test; they advised Tesla who, without the R & T being aware, updated the software remotely over the car's 3G link and removed the limit. It's a good thing it was the good guys updating the software. 🙂
March 25, 2013 at 8:39 am
It's not just lost keys. Drop a mechanical key in a puddle, no big deal. Electronic key?
Fortunately a replacement key for my car costs about $2. That's fine with me. (In a blizzard a couple of years ago, I dropped my keys in a snowbank, only to find them after the snow melted. They still worked fine)
I carry my own electronics rather than have it installed in the car.
...
-- FORTRAN manual for Xerox Computers --
March 25, 2013 at 8:56 am
Best one for keys is the 2003/04 Nissan Micra.
From http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/nissan/micra-k12-2003/
Early Micra K12s with 'intelligent keys' are becoming economic write-offs because when the system fails a new steering column and rack is required costing £1,500.
March 25, 2013 at 8:56 am
Another type of data stored is video. Recently a meteor exploded over Russia. The event was captured on lots of dashcam's. Imagine storing all of that data? They do it to protect themselves.
March 25, 2013 at 9:10 am
John Hanrahan (3/25/2013)
Another type of data stored is video. Recently a meteor exploded over Russia. The event was captured on lots of dashcam's. Imagine storing all of that data? They do it to protect themselves.
Well not all that is stored. It's typically a looping camera, downloaded only when something interesting happens.
...
-- FORTRAN manual for Xerox Computers --
March 25, 2013 at 9:12 am
I hadn't thought about the puddle. I'd hope the keys can withstand some brief immersion. I know I've dropped the Prius keys in the snow and it hasn't been a big deal, partially because I don't need to "plug" it in. I can set it on the console and start the car.
March 25, 2013 at 10:14 am
What I don't like about newer vehicles is the windows getting smaller. I have a 25 year old Toyota van (they didn't call them minivans back then, although that's what it is) which I got used about 15 years ago. It was easy to see around the vehicle from the driver's seat. Recently we've gotten a newer Toyota minivan, a nice 2006 Sienna. However the windows are smaller. I have a much harder time backing up that vehicle because I can't see as well to back it up. I'm convinced that's the reason why manufacturers are putting in those cameras, so you can see in the back of the vehicle when you back it up. I kind of feel ripped off; you know they add something for $1000+ because they're reduced the visibility you used to have. Why not just make my windows larger, and save me the $1000?
Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.
March 25, 2013 at 10:57 am
Well not all that is stored. It's typically a looping camera, downloaded only when something interesting happens.
Jackpot!:w00t:
March 25, 2013 at 11:10 am
One of the problems with more modern vehicles is that they are too intelligent for their own good.
I know a highly competent mechanic who had to take a vehicle to a main dealer because installing a window switch required it to be registered with the vehicle central computer. No registration, no start.
I loath and detest the decisions my wife's car makes on my behalf.
Switch to reverse? you clearly want the radio turned down.
Press the switch to direct air to the windscreen? You clearly want the fan on as well at maximum blast.
Press the accelerator at a round-a-bout? Clearly you want the DSG gearbox to dither, prevaricate and delay before setting off like a gingered greyhound.
Hold the door lock switch a fraction too long? Clearly you want the windows opening.
Press the door lock switch? Clearly you want your wife to stand in the rain while you fumble for whatever the hell it is that unlocks the doors other than the drivers doors. Clue, it isn't the remote switch because that sodding thing just drops the windows down to ensure that all passengers get equally damp.
Asked to wash the windows? Clearly you want the wipers to wipe one wipe beyond the optimum to return your windscreen to the smeared state it started at.
Auto arming alarms...Oh don't get me started. The valeting that was needed after the dog got woken unexpected by the alarm. It was worth every penny I paid to have it valeted even if I did have to live of porridge and left overs for the rest of the week!
March 25, 2013 at 11:25 am
David.Poole (3/25/2013)
One of the problems with more modern vehicles is that they are too intelligent for their own good.
I tend to agree with your annoyances, but I do like the intelligence of the cars. I just wish it were a little more customizable. Let me decide how many wipes, how to handle reverse, etc.
March 25, 2013 at 1:11 pm
David, I know what you mean about all of the gadgets, especially for me the windows! Perhaps it's because this is the first car I've ever owned that has automated windows, but man, I'm sick of those things. Especially the driver's window! The weather's getting a bit warmer, so I want to crack my window while driving. No way! I've tried with almost no success at all, to just crack the window, but does it let me? Almost never. It wants to roll the thing all the way down. I've tried punching that thing as fast as I can, so that it is a depressed for as short a time as possible, but almost always it rolls the window all the way down. I feel like I'm practicing for a badly made kung fu movie when the sound is delayed by about a third of a second, and my Sienna is going, "Oh, Grasshopper, I see you're returned to challenge me. Let's see just how fast you can depress and release the button." The infuriating thing is that sometimes I get it right and actually do just crack the window. When that happens it's the highlight of my day.
It's a sad thing when the highlight of your day is cracking your window.
Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.
March 25, 2013 at 4:41 pm
Rod, the one I witnessed was one of our IT delivery managers parking up in his Alfa 159 with the windows down absolutely blue in the face. He'd tried to put his window down to scrape ice off his wing mirror and the electrics packed up.
60 miles to work and he was seriously cold. He cursed the car and stabbed the button and buzzzzzz the window went straight up. He went from blue faced to red faced and very shouty in 0.00001 nanoseconds.
I learnt words that day that aren't even in the urban dictionary:hehe:
March 25, 2013 at 9:29 pm
Just on the key thing, a number of manufacturers are going the "smart-key" route, and they are very nice to use. Not fumbling for keys etc. and proximity detection for door opening is nice.
For the other features like which doors to unlock, you need to go through the settings in the car. There are usually a bunch of configuration things, including which door gets opened when you press the button! One car I hadyou could set the steering sensitivity through the configuration.
If you don't like the default behaviour of the car, ring the sales centre and ask them how you change it!
Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 20 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply