Mike Romain wrote:
>
> I have always gotten a laugh out of such a foolish system.
>
> The way I understand it, basically if the power fails when you are at
> speed, you crash, just like on an airplane. I guess you could also put
> your head between your legs and kiss your ass good-bye like they do on
> planes too... ;-)
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Aug./05 http://www.imagestation.com/album/in...?id=2120343242
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>

Most of the fighter jets are fly-by-wire and they generally don't have
problems with failures of this system. The fly-by-wire system is
multiply redundant and rather expensive though. The main reason for it
is the fact that it allows faster response and allows the computers to
assist in stabilizing some inherently unstable aircraft designs.

In the auto world drive-by-wire would be constrained by the price points
and the multiple redundancy would probably be sacrificed. At auto speeds
the faster response of by-wire technology is not needed, so the only
possible reason to use the more expensive technology would be to allow
the computer to try to compensate for a drivers lack of skill.

Pete C.