General Discussion

[Kermit1970]

Make a flameproof version and stick it in the petrol tank

[InfiniteStates]

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PatC_PSN wrote:

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

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PatC_PSN wrote:

Surely these GPS devices will have to be built along the lines of aircraft black boxes, so they still work after a bad accident?

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Possibly but not necessarily and depends on where it is positioned.

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Oh yes, of course. Car manufacturers just need to site the device in a part of the car that will never be subject to impact, so it will still work. I don't know why I didn't think of that really.

All they need to do is avoid the front, back, both sides, the top, bottom, all four corners and the interior.

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Solved - simple.

[PatC_PSN]

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InfiniteStates wrote:

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PatC_PSN wrote:

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

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PatC_PSN wrote:

Surely these GPS devices will have to be built along the lines of aircraft black boxes, so they still work after a bad accident?

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Possibly but not necessarily and depends on where it is positioned.

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Oh yes, of course. Car manufacturers just need to site the device in a part of the car that will never be subject to impact, so it will still work. I don't know why I didn't think of that really.

All they need to do is avoid the front, back, both sides, the top, bottom, all four corners and the interior.

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Solved - simple.

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I had assumed the GPS device would be slightly smaller than that.

[Chuk_Chuk]

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PatC_PSN wrote:

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

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PatC_PSN wrote:

Surely these GPS devices will have to be built along the lines of aircraft black boxes, so they still work after a bad accident?

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Possibly but not necessarily and depends on where it is positioned.

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Oh yes, of course. Car manufacturers just need to site the device in a part of the car that will never be subject to impact, so it will still work. I don't know why I didn't think of that really.

All they need to do is avoid the front, back, both sides, the top, bottom, all four corners and the interior.

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Or they could put it in one of the already toughened areas in a car. Negating the need for the device to have it's own reinforced casing (depending on actual specfications).

Also you forgot to consider that a black box needs to be recovered from accidents that could see planes torn apart before even hitting the ground and have all it's data readable, while this only needs to transmit a signal for an unspecified amount of time. So depending on the specfication it would not need to be built like a black box.

[PatC_PSN]

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

Or they could put it in one of the already toughened areas in a car. Negating the need for the device to have it's own reinforced casing (depending on actual specfications).

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So which is the toughened area of a car that is never smashed to pieces in an accident?

while this only needs to transmit a signal for an unspecified amount of time. 

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... after having been in a head-on collision that can leave the average car unrecognisable.

[webrosc]

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PatC_PSN wrote:

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

Or they could put it in one of the already toughened areas in a car. Negating the need for the device to have it's own reinforced casing (depending on actual specfications).

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So which is the toughened area of a car that is never smashed to pieces in an accident?

while this only needs to transmit a signal for an unspecified amount of time. 

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... after having been in a head-on collision that can leave the average car unrecognisable.

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Don't forget the G Forces the device will take from the accident.

Some cars have (i think or it may've been a program with future ideas) a system that will call an operator during a breakdown, if you don't respond to the operator they can call for emergency services etc, or a tow if you answer and say its just a minor fender bender.

[Chuk_Chuk]

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PatC_PSN wrote:

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

Or they could put it in one of the already toughened areas in a car. Negating the need for the device to have it's own reinforced casing (depending on actual specfications).

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So which is the toughened area of a car that is never smashed to pieces in an accident?

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Let me get out my big book of vehicle data sheets. Oh wait. 

Like I said but you ignored depends on specification. Such as what are the minimum forces is this device meant to withstand. What sort of vehicle accidents is it meant to at least survive. Theres also consideration as to which country it's going to be used. Why make a device that can survive in arctic conditions to be sold in the UK. Or why make a device that can survive being thrown off a cliff when 98% of your vehicle owners live and drive around in cities.

There are many things that need to be considered before we can begin to discuss what sort of reinforcment, if any, the devices casing will need. In the end it all comes down to the specfications, which we don't have.

[PatC_PSN]

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Chuk_Chuk wrote:

Like I said but you ignored depends on specification. Such as what are the minimum forces is this device meant to withstand. What sort of vehicle accidents is it meant to at least survive.

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I'd guess it would have to withstand the forces of a typical vehicle collision, with a suitable margin built into the level of protection.

The point was that it would need to be pretty well protected to withstand the impact of an accident and still function, or it would be pointless. Of course that would take the form of a specification, but that doesn't alter the general point about having to be robust. And the issue with that is that it would significantly increase the costs.

[Kermit1970]

See message 31

[Guedes747]

Personally think this is a good feature and I am glad to see it being implemented on new car models, the only down side I see on such feature, is sensor malfunction, which will eventually lead in costy repairs.