Gerhard Fiedler <lists <at> connectionbrazil.com> writes:
 
> Alan B. Pearce wrote:
> 
> >> I don't know, but I assume staged testing: the component manufacturers
> >> do some testing on their components, the modules made of those
> >> components get some unit testing after mounting, hopefully they test
> >> the ABS functionality on the mounted car before selling it... 
> >> 
> >> In the end, cars are a consumer item. What do you want? Cars made out
> >> of space-grade components? :)
> > 
> > I would hope that as these components are used in a situation that can
> > be potentially life threatening, that the modules are put through full
> > temperature range burn in before installation.
> 
> I agree, but I wouldn't bet on it... :)
> 
> Anybody around who knows? Who is familiar with major automobile brand
> quality assurance procedures?

Here are some reports from beta testers of all-electronic control whizbang cars
who participate in the improvement of product quality in the well-known
tradition pioneered by the IT industry since m$ products have become widespread:

  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/13/satanic_bmw/
  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/18/renault_laguna_terror_ordeal/
  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/07/satanic_renault/
  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/04/self_driving_golf/
  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/12/kamikaze_prius/
  
Anyway once upon a time one had to drop a beer can (or a scroll tube with one's
indictment by a mock court of law and have it wedged under the brake pedal
before driving over a broken bridge - as seen in a movie I forget). Now it's
electronic ...

Come to think of it, how would one hack into the comms protocol of these things
(to test a few concepts from 'crowd^H^H^H^Hmob psychology'):

  http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/29/motorised_robobollard/

Peter P.


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