Honda "Drive by Wire" question... what if the power goes out?

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:48:16 -0600 mst > wrote:

> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 17:40:37 -0500 "James C. Reeves" > wrote:
>
> > I believe the Chevy Malibu has a steer-by-wire system.
>
> I doubt it, seriously. To my knowledge, concept cars
> are the only vehicles that employ steer-by-wire.

I think what you're referring to is "electric power steering".

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>
> I am slightly puzzled why everyone seems to assume "drive by wire" has
> anything at all to do with the steering.
>

Likely because "driving" involves/requires steering as well as throttle.
Calling something "drive-by-wire" would imply that all systems
required/necessary in order to "drive" (i.e. brakes, throttle, steering) are
*all* involved in the "drive-by-wire" system. Honda used a very poor
description of the "feature".

Don Bruder wrote:
> Tell ya what, Ellie... You drive that "fly-by-wire" unit. Just do me a
> favor: Warn me where you'll be so I can avoid that
> deathtrap-looking-for-a-victim.

As others have mentioned, the Civic only has "throttle by wire". So in
case of electronic failure, it would just slow to a stop. The car you
really need to be watching out for is Mercedes, who has had "brake by
wire" in its higher end models since 2003.

> I want, and will settle for *ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LESS* than *DIRECT*
> mechanical or hydraulic control of all major vehicle functions,
> particularly steering and braking. Something that works *NO MATTER WHAT*
> in every situation short of total catastrrophic failure.

I'm sure most people, including me, are uncomfortable with the concept
of taking away direct control. But hypothetically, let's say mechanical
catastrophic failure occurs 1 in a million chance. And after much
maturation, electronic "drive by wire" systems only occur 1 in 10
million chance. Which system would you prefer? (Again, that is just
hypothetical, it may not be feasible to implement such a reliable
electronic system cheaply). I would take the more reliable one.

Hugo Schmeisser wrote:
> I am slightly puzzled why everyone seems to assume "drive by wire" has
> anything at all to do with the steering.

Because "drive by wire" means everything like throttle, brakes,
steering, etc. Honda marketing is misleading people.

Bucky wrote:

> Because "drive by wire" means everything like throttle, brakes,
> steering, etc. Honda marketing is misleading people.

And I thought GM and Crapsler were bad for misleading advertising.

Pete C. wrote:
> With the electronic throttle control servo failing in the WOT position
> and ABS second guessing your braking, you would likely have gone right
> through the garage, both the front door and the back wall.

But the traction control system would keep the car going in a straight
line. =)

"mst" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 20:38:38 GMT "Pete C." > wrote:
>
>> With the electronic throttle control servo failing in the WOT position
>> and ABS second guessing your braking, you would likely have gone right
>> through the garage, both the front door and the back wall.
>
> That would have ruined their breakfast !!!
>

I woudln't go that far but you would have at least spilled some milk.

Elle wrote:

<snip>


>
> To categorically reject change because the "current system
> is good enough" is foolishness


Indubitably true.


> and demonstrates
> obliviousness to the many points in automotive history when
> of course the old way was "good enough," but the new way
> yielded some advantage, so it predominated.


True again.

But in the comparison of aircraft "fly-by-wire" and the idea of truly
analogous automotive "drive-by-wire", the plot tends to get lost.

Aircraft "fly-by-wire" came about to address certain actual, specific
issues regarding the rather inmportant goal of keeping an airplane in
the air. Automotive "throttle-by-wire" (to coin a more accurate phrase)
arose in an attempt at meeting emissions regulations. The difference is
fundamental and of great import: One is critical, the other is utterly
useless absent its regulatory impetus.

To install true "drive-by-wire" in a road-going automobile on current
roads would be astonishingly stupid. Airplanes are not cars and do not
live in even remotely the same environment.

"Bucky" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Pete C. wrote:
>> With the electronic throttle control servo failing in the WOT position
>> and ABS second guessing your braking, you would likely have gone right
>> through the garage, both the front door and the back wall.
>
> But the traction control system would keep the car going in a straight
> line. =)
>

Yea, even if you didn't want it to.

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005 17:52:17 -0500, James C. Reeves > wrote:


>>
>> I am slightly puzzled why everyone seems to assume "drive by wire" has
>> anything at all to do with the steering.
>>

>Likely because "driving" involves/requires steering as well as throttle.
>Calling something "drive-by-wire" would imply that all systems
>required/necessary in order to "drive" (i.e. brakes, throttle, steering) are
>*all* involved in the "drive-by-wire" system. Honda used a very poor
>description of the "feature".

Uh huh. Please name a single car with such steering. One example should
be enough.