The downside of automotive technology

[Deesse23]

The systems will likely use multiple layers of redundancy and be programmed to pull over in stop if any one element fails.

This is just a lame attempt to justify the silly argument that people are reduced by having machines do their labor. Instead, it frees them up to do other things.

I am working for 1 of the 3 biggest automotive suppliers in the world (and arguably currently by far the most succesful one), and i am working in R&D of brake systems for automated driving. To be precise, i am working on this exactly, as project manager for new (and not yet customer-and-public-road-ready functions and architecture). So much for my credentials.


Multiple layers of redundancy? Sorry, but thats . Quasi redundancy, yes, sort of. Real redundancy? Fuck no, muuuuuuuuuch too expensive. Consider this: For a modern electic car, you need a brake system with electric boost, the standard vacuum boster (driven by combustion engine) is no option anymore. If your electric however boost fails, you are stuck with (according to international regulations, so its LEGAL) 0.3g decel and 500N at the pedal (good luck putting 500N to your brake pedal if you are no pro) per mechanical design. 0.3g is ca. what you could achieve with a conventinal cable pulled parking brake (a la Steve McQueen doing a 180 during a car chase in his vintage Mustang). Did you ever try to stop your car with the cable pulled parking brake? Try it!!!! But please not at home, rather on WalMarts parking lot if i may add. I did it once on our test facility, and my pants still have this brown hue.
Now....considering this dangerous (but still legal) scenario, do you think Ford (pick any other OEM) agreed to pay for 10$ extra and real redundancy? A second battery maybe or even a buffer (in case battery or wiring fails) for a single safe braking to full stop? Or even redundant drivers for the electric motor? Fuck, no! 10$ extra per system, multiplied with 20mio systems my employer alone sells per year? Are you fucking crazy?


You have no idea how big the $-pressure is in this industry and what kind of cheap components and tech in general is used to make this possible. You have no idea how many secret safety relevant Software updates your car receives during routine maintenance in your garage, just to avoid PR desasters by having to announce callbacks. You have no idea, how far beyond the usual specified temperatures etc our devices work and how we have to turn TWO blind eyes toward design verification test results. We ahve left the field of being serious many years ago. The current Diesel scandal etc. is just the tip of the iceberg.
Just one last example. The current CPUs we are using (and i am talking about the TOP ones!!!) cost around 3$, and have 166MHz clock with 5MB RAM. This is whats gonna drive your oh-so-modern-brake-by-wire-highly-automated-brake system ECU, which will provide many of the crucial functionalities for HAD. Sure its CPU-pairs working in lockstep, providing ASIL C (at least) safelty level, but have a closer look at what ASIL C means and compare to how we put it into action, and you will be up for an unpleasant surprise.

If you think that future cars will only be remotely similar to modern fly-by-wire airliners, then you will be up for a very rude awakening....and if you have a closer look at how those airliners and their systems are made....the Titanic suddenly doesnt seem to be such a bad design.

I dont know how many hundred (or thousand) $ your super-super leather interior will cost, but if our HAD brake system ECU is more than 100 bucks, were out of business quicker than you can say "Nappa Leather".