Why Are There Computers in Cars?

[aleph_null1]

So, my ancient, beloved Volvo 740 ran well past 200,000 miles without a single problem before finally suiciding in a dramatic way that involved a fire in the engine compartment on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Anyway, that was over a month ago, and I finally decided to upgrade myself to an '04 Volvo V70 -- figured I'd spend the extra cash to get the reliability of a late-model car with a beautiful, reliable engine.

So, I was doing 75 mph on I-95 heading to Boston when "Anti-Skid Service Required" flashes on the information panel and the vehicle goes into what is laughingly called Safe Mode. It turned itself off. Full stall. Game Over, Man. Coast to the shoulder ....

After the towing & all that, the service department finally narrowed it down to a COMPUTER GLITCH. Rather, a design feature: A sensor in the ABS lost contact with the central computer, which caused the car to go into limp mode. While I'm doing 75.

I'm sure computers are cool & all that, but do we really need them to control our cars? And freak out for no reason ...

[Mack_Attack]

I agree. Not like the old days. Where you could use wrenches to fix a car.

[Iron Greasel]

They just need tweaking, that's all. When they work properly, computers are a lot more efficient than humans at focusing on a single task for several hours. And they react very fast. And can communicate with their fellow computers on a much higher level than humans. And they are getting better at recognizing objects. If someone manages to remove the freaking-out-for-no-reason-part, computers can control cars a lot better than humans.

But you should still make sure you know how turn it off and control the car manually if need be.

[aleph_null1]

Originally Posted by Iron Greasel But you should still make sure you know how turn it off and control the car manually if need be.

Can we? I'm sure that even if I could figure it out -- I'm supposedly a computer scientist -- it would void some warranty and undoubtedly cost me money.

[Alaeus]

There's nothing like over-complicating something as simple as the internal combustion engine, is there?

The only lights I ever worried about in my '67 Camaro was a pair of blue lights behind me.
Why did I ever sell that gorgeous piece of machinery?
Oh, yeah, the wife wanted a Sport Utility.
I could smack myself.

[Mack_Attack]

Originally Posted by Alaeus There's nothing like over-complicating something as simple as the internal combustion engine, is there? The only lights I ever worried about in my '67 Camaro was a pair of blue lights behind me. Why did I ever sell that gorgeous piece of machinery? Oh, yeah, the wife wanted a Sport Utility. I could smack myself.

LOL. You took the words right out of my mouth. You look at all the great cars in the 60s and 70s. When Chevy ford where in races to see who could make the biggest engine AKA hemi in the road runner. I take a car like that any day over. These new found cars.

[Sever]

Originally Posted by Alaeus The only lights I ever worried about in my '67 Camaro was a pair of blue lights behind me.

I like your style.

Originally Posted by Alaeus Why did I ever sell that gorgeous piece of machinery? Oh, yeah, the wife wanted a Sport Utility. I could smack myself.

*smack*

Consider yeself smacked.

Seriously though, computers in cars are a good thing. But technology is nowhere near advanced enough that its judgement should overide that of the driver. Your car should NOT decide to turn itself off for something as simple as ABS or traction control (bah!) failure when you're stationary, let alone doing 75mph. Human error is involved here, and its placed high up in the company by the sounds of it. A dangerous way to ensure the company's service dollars, if you ask me.

[Iron Greasel]

Originally Posted by Iron Greasel But you should still make sure you know how turn it off and control the car manually if need be.

Originally Posted by aleph_null1 Can we? I'm sure that even if I could figure it out -- I'm supposedly a computer scientist -- it would void some warranty and undoubtedly cost me money.

Well, car computers totally should come with a big, red, shiny, easily accessible button clearly labeled something like "MANUAL OVERRIDE". Computers turning off when you don't want to not is really annoying, but computers not turning off when you want to is outright spooky.

[Thoran]

Maintenance is more complicated... but there's a huge payoff in going to an intelligent engine management system.

For instance... as much as I love old Muscle Cars, my 69 Mustang makes about 300 hp, gets at best 15mpg. My 96 Z28 Makes close to 400hp and gets 27mpg highway.

When I want to tweak the 69 engine running characteristics I get out a screwdriver, when I want to tweak the 96 I get out a laptop. Instead of trial and error I have telemetry fed right into the laptop regarding every critical engine parameter with a download (easy to get yourself into trouble though).

On the other hand... computers to run the A/C and power windows = more stuff to break.

[Ilander]

...Well, good news to you guys, then. Those Kooky foreign auto-makers (Toyota, I believe) have, in plan, a complete automoblie Operating System for their whole line of vehicles by 2013 (I think).

Yep. You too, while driving, can rely upon computer programmers to not misplace a decimal.