Post by Rinconrolla on Jul 8, 2010 13:08:20 GMT -5
During this first day of the tour our (still-jetlagged but wide-eyed) group has had a chance to see some of the comprehensive testing procedures Toyota performs on its vehicles. We’ve gotten a better sense of just how thoroughly Toyota puts its cars and trucks through their paces on the component, system and vehicle levels before they take to the road.
A series of demonstrations and vehicle tests illustrated the reliability of our electronic throttle control system (ETCS)—which has been something of a focal point of attention (read: rumor and speculation) since our recent recalls began. Our group saw how built-in redundancies and fail-safe features are linked to various sensors, and how “watchdog” signals ensure that, in the unlikely occurrence of a problem, the ETCS will return the engine to reduced power mode or shut it off completely. You can learn more about this system by watching a series of videos we did for an ETCS webinar earlier this year.
Since the ETCS was introduced in 1998, the system has been featured in more than 40 million cars and trucks we’ve sold. Our engineers have repeatedly and rigorously tested our ETCS and have never found a single case of unintended acceleration due to a system defect. As we watch these demos, we are gaining a powerful understanding as to why that’s the case.
Today the group also got to see several of the ETCS-i test set-ups and methods. One was the ETCS vehicle testing on the chassis. A machine called a dynamometer allows us to test the vehicle in “normal” condition just like real driving on the road with all systems powered, engine systems operating, wheels moving, etc. We saw how the system operation and fail-safes are checked and how, in the real world, a service technician could access the onboard computer data and troubleshoot problems.
We also got to see demos of the Hardware-in-Loop Simulation (or “HILS”), which offer a kind of “virtual vehicle” computer simulation that allows engineers to validate new hardware and software solutions with a high degree of repeatability. The HILS system was created based on testing needs for the complex hybrid vehicles that Toyota is so well known for. Given that we are on our sixth generation of hybrids, that’s a lot experience and know-how for testing and simulating complex automotive electronics
A series of demonstrations and vehicle tests illustrated the reliability of our electronic throttle control system (ETCS)—which has been something of a focal point of attention (read: rumor and speculation) since our recent recalls began. Our group saw how built-in redundancies and fail-safe features are linked to various sensors, and how “watchdog” signals ensure that, in the unlikely occurrence of a problem, the ETCS will return the engine to reduced power mode or shut it off completely. You can learn more about this system by watching a series of videos we did for an ETCS webinar earlier this year.
Since the ETCS was introduced in 1998, the system has been featured in more than 40 million cars and trucks we’ve sold. Our engineers have repeatedly and rigorously tested our ETCS and have never found a single case of unintended acceleration due to a system defect. As we watch these demos, we are gaining a powerful understanding as to why that’s the case.
Today the group also got to see several of the ETCS-i test set-ups and methods. One was the ETCS vehicle testing on the chassis. A machine called a dynamometer allows us to test the vehicle in “normal” condition just like real driving on the road with all systems powered, engine systems operating, wheels moving, etc. We saw how the system operation and fail-safes are checked and how, in the real world, a service technician could access the onboard computer data and troubleshoot problems.
We also got to see demos of the Hardware-in-Loop Simulation (or “HILS”), which offer a kind of “virtual vehicle” computer simulation that allows engineers to validate new hardware and software solutions with a high degree of repeatability. The HILS system was created based on testing needs for the complex hybrid vehicles that Toyota is so well known for. Given that we are on our sixth generation of hybrids, that’s a lot experience and know-how for testing and simulating complex automotive electronics
Aww man, at least you tried. What are you planning to try next?
