BMW's Solution for Floormats: "Smart" Gas Pedals

[TuffG929]

Originally Posted by Autoblog

Now that Toyota's massive 3.8 million-vehicle recall for floor mats with a mind of their own has got unintended acceleration on our brains, perhaps it would be a good time to take a look at ways to solve the potential problem once and for all. In contrast to Toyota's initial low-tech tie-wrap approach, The New York Times reports that some automakers have created so-called "smart gas pedals."

So, um, what's a smart gas pedal? Apparently, on all BMWs since 2005, a computer can tell when both the gas and brake pedals are being applied when the vehicle is moving. In that situation, the computer disables the gas pedal and gives the brakes priority. Presumably, the BMW system is smart enough to figure out intentional left-foot braking, as we don't recall experiencing any problem in such usage scenarios.

Considering Audi and other automakers' unfortunate history with unsubstantiated unintended acceleration claims, similar technology reportedly exists at that automaker along with parent company Volkswagen. Interestingly, the NYT reports that General Motors, Ford, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus and Hyundai don't employ such systems, though Toyota is said to be considering the technology after its recent travails. According to Chrysler spokesperson Lisa Barrow, most vehicles from the Pentastar "have a feature that recognizes the use of both pedals at the same and brings the engine speed to idle."

LINK

[balthazar]

Needless cost & complexity. Return to hinging the pedal from the floor. Done.

[TuffG929]

^ Most cars today use "drive by wire" systems anyway so it's actually not anymore complex....Just more computer code or an extra module.

[balthazar]

Except that TBW is ALSO needlessly complex (and not without cost).

[TuffG929]

^ For a company like BMW, which sells cars in both RHD and LHD, hinging the pedal to the floor would be equally as costly. I expect to see other automakers jump on this in order to avoid furthur litigation.

[balthazar]

"Equally as costly" + failproof = win.

[gdsm3]

Originally Posted by TuffG929

^ For a company like BMW, which sells cars in both RHD and LHD, hinging the pedal to the floor would be equally as costly. I expect to see other automakers jump on this in order to avoid furthur litigation.

I'm pretty sure that BMW hinges their gas pedals from the floor. I haven't purchased any recent bimmers (>2000) but every BMW I've owned (3) before has always had the gas pedal hinged on the floor.

[jry]

Originally Posted by balthazar

Needless cost & complexity. Return to hinging the pedal from the floor. Done.

German over engineering.

Just put the accelerator on the dash. Kink of like a lever. Then, you can kill the cruise control. Now, thats a money saver!

[TuffG929]

If you all think this is "needlessly complex" then maybe you should buy a Lexus....They'll zip-tie your the mat to the seat for free.

[red_rider]

Why don't they just give the gas pedal enough clearance in the first place? I really must not understand the big deal here.

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by balthazar

Except that TBW is ALSO needlessly complex (and not without cost).

It's more accurate, and in some cases safer to use than a cable connecting the throttle body and the gas pedal. TBW isn't complex at all, and if you think it is, then why are you even on a computer in the first place? A computer is "ALSO needlessly complex" also.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by gdsm3

I'm pretty sure that BMW hinges their gas pedals from the floor. I haven't purchased any recent bimmers (>2000) but every BMW I've owned (3) before has always had the gas pedal hinged on the floor.

They do not hinge on the floor any longer. In the early 2000s, perhaps.

People can say what they want about the necessity of BMW's complexity, but the level of refinement and ingenuity should embarrass the domestics to the point of supplying a letter of apology in the glovebox of all new cars for not being as good as a Bimmer..

[igor]

It is ridiculous that these are not employed elsewhere

it is literally 2 lines of code:

If throttle=1 and brake=1 then engine=idle

(yeah bash me for oversimplification, but as a programmer, I could write it in 5 minutes! )

[balthazar]

Originally Posted by Xenon

It's more accurate, and in some cases safer to use than a cable connecting the throttle body and the gas pedal. TBW isn't complex at all, and if you think it is, then why are you even on a computer in the first place? A computer is "ALSO needlessly complex" also.

A well-engineered mechanical throttle connection needs no 'accuracy' improvement; as the case with a DBW: it is as accurate as your foot.

And a computer does not replace a mechancial connection to the internet.

[chinamonty]

Maybe we should just put a circuit breaker on the dash somewhere. I get told off all the time for left foot braking but I did notice during the tevelized coverage of the V8 Supercars that more than of the racers do it in manual cars.