Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Florida man cancels Nissan GT-R order due to 'black box']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/24/florida-man-cancels-nissan-gt-r-order-due-to-black-box/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan GT-R

A Florida man named Scott Weires has canceled the order for his long-awaited Nissan GT-R. Why? It's not that he was disappointed in the car's performance credentials, far from it. The problem is that the GT-R is equipped with a 'black box', similar in theory to the kind found on airplanes to help determine what went wrong in case of an accident or breakdown. By the end of 2012, car buyers won't have a choice as to whether their new car is equipped with a 'black box,' or Electronic Data Recorder -- they will be federally mandated to carry one. These devices track information that could be useful to the manufacturer in determining exactly what is, or has been, going on with a car. There are a few worries, though, that warranty claims could be denied if the automaker, Nissan in this case, deems that the car was being raced or abused in some way or by police or lawyers to determine culpability. Nissan's GT-R carries an on-board recorder that keeps track of the past few day's worth of driving and cannot be disabled. In the case of Scott Weires, an attorney no less, that was enough to look elsewhere. Would it be for you?

Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R


[Source: AutoWeek]

Florida man cancels Nissan GT-R order due to 'black box' originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black boxBlackBoxdata recorderDataRecorderedrelectronic data recorderElectronicDataRecordernissan gt-rNissanGt-rvehicle status data recorderVehicleStatusDataRecordervsdrWed, 24 Sep 2008 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Automotive black boxes evolve]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/03/automotive-black-boxes-evolve/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/03/automotive-black-boxes-evolve/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/03/automotive-black-boxes-evolve/#commentsFiled under: , ,

RoadboxFor now, if your car has a black box it's probably recording your speed, skids, steering wheel and pedal input and how many of your radio's presets are disco (not really). But PLK, a subsidiary of Hyundai, wants to offer you (or more likely your boss) a more talented black box. Their Roadscope device records all the above except for the bad radio, but adds lane departure warning and will take photos seconds before, after and during an accident. While it will be a big hit with fleet owners and rental agencies, priced under $300 the Roadscope could find its way into personal vehicles. Photo evidence could be a huge boost (or bust) during an accident trial.

PLK's Roadbox takes the recording feature even further, with wide-angle video recording of accident events.

It's such a good thing these things weren't around when we were in high school. Bald tires on Dad's Chevelle were enough evidence to convict us of school parking lot burnouts and donuts. But video footage just might have had another judge convicting us.

A shot of the Roadscope and a sample of its video after the jump.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Continue reading Automotive black boxes evolve

Automotive black boxes evolve originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive black boxautomotive data recorderAutomotiveBlackBoxAutomotiveDataRecorderblack boxBlackBoxplkplk black boxplk roadboxplk roadscopePlkBlackBoxPlkRoadboxPlkRoadscoperoadboxroadscopeWed, 03 Jan 2007 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[NHTSA creating universal standard for automotive 'black box']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/07/nhtsa-creating-universal-standard-for-automotive-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/07/nhtsa-creating-universal-standard-for-automotive-black-box/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/07/nhtsa-creating-universal-standard-for-automotive-black-box/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Though you may not realize it, your car is probably equipped with an automotive 'black box'. Also known as Event Data Recorders, these devices record information from a vehicle's various sensors during a crash - everything from airbag performance to the angle of the steering wheel to the speed of the vehicle is retained. Though an estimated 90 percent of new vehicles are shipped with the devices, each manufacturer uses their own hardware, software and file formats.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will rule on a universal format for Event Data Recorders in the next 30 days, according to Automotive News. While not going so far as to make EDRs mandatory in every new vehicle, the ruling will create a standard format for data collected by EDRs across many different vehicles. The Society of Automotive Engineers has been given the task to come up with the universal format.

The new ruling will only cost automakers about $8 million, which isn't much in the grand scheme of things. To date these black boxes have aided in voluntary recalls and accident investigations, and automakers claim they're used to make vehicles safer. Of course, the real debate is whether information recorded by an EDR can be submitted as evidence against a driver in court. In that case, Big Brother may now be riding shot gun.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. required]

NHTSA creating universal standard for automotive 'black box' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto black boxAutoBlackBoxblack boxblack boxesBlackBoxBlackBoxesEDREvent Data RecorderEventDataRecorderNational Highway Traffic Safety AdminstrationNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdminstrationNHTSASAESociety of Automotive EngineersSocietyOfAutomotiveEngineersMon, 07 Aug 2006 16:58:00 EST