When Accelerator Brakes

The first quarter of 2010 saw Toyota consumers mired with a whole range of
problems related to its cars concerning faulty accelerator pedals. This opened
up the Pandoras Box on the use of electronics on-board, more specifically the
Electronic Throttle Control-intelligent (ETCS-i). Toyota is known for using
state-of-the-art electronic systems in its cars. A decade ago Toyota Motor
started using electronics in some of its vehicles critical functions. But
today, many blame that the usage of these electronic systems is the main reason
behind its faulty accelerator pedal problems. What electronics does is that it
replaces the hoses and hydraulic fluid with electrical sensors and computer
chips. Some of the Toyota vehicles suffered from a problem of sudden
acceleration without the drivers knowledge.

But what Toyota has done is not uncommon as electronic pedals have been used
in high-end cars in the last many years and that is actually used to give more
safety, agility and control to the driver and the vehicle. Electronic pedals are
a very common feature and Toyota started deploying a different type of
electronic accelerator in the late 1990s. So in the past the gas pedal of the
vehicle was connected to a cable and that opened the throttle on the engine
resulting in speed of the vehicle. In contrast Toyotas new electronic
accelerating systems are totally electronic and minimized manual intervention.
In the new type, Toyota used sensors that can detect driver usage details like
how they use the accelerator pedal and how much pressure they apply, etc. Once
this is captured the system sends out signals to the engine whether to
accelerate or slow down. Critics say that this system at times gets confused and
that has translated the car to accelerate and in some cases led to fatal
crashes, which was earlier concluded as rash driving.

Testing Woes?

The ETCS-i throttles, first introduced in some Toyota models in 1998, were
widely applied since 2002. As per Safety Research since 2005, Toyota has
launched six recalls related to accelerator pedalsfloor mat replacement was
featured in four of these campaignsalthough the October 2009 recall included
other adjustments to the targeted vehicles. The most recent recalls, in January
2010, were launched to replace sticking accelerator pedals on many late models.
Each of Toyotas recalls has focused on mechanical root causes while the company
has denied any electronic connection to unintended acceleration.

Meanwhile Toyota on its part has argued that these allegations of on-board
electronics flaw as baseless; and its superior and attributed the accelerator
problem to condensation from heaters that caused increased friction in the gas
pedal, making it stick in some cases, making the problem a mechanical one and
not an issue of electronics. But critics still are not buying it and argue why
Toyota does not include a brake override system to stop the car.

But irrespective of it being a mechanical or an electronic problem, it boils
down to the need for more effective testing at the R&D level. According to
Safety Research, since 1999, at least 2,262 Toyota and Lexus owners have
reported to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to the media,
and the courts that their vehicles have accelerated suddenly and unexpectedly in
a variety of situations. These incidents have resulted in 815 crashes, 341
injuries and, nineteen deaths potentially related to sudden unintended
acceleration.

While the investigations are on in the US on what really caused the
unintended acceleration; experts say that the on-board application of
electronics need to be more carefully planned and must have an option to switch
to the manual mode. And it also drives home the point that over reliance on
sensor based pre-emptive drive management is not a foolproof option. The way
forward as experts advocate is a total re-look at the entire electronic systems
that automotive industry adopts in vehicles and its safety in diverse user
conditions and behavior.

Shrikanth G

shrikanthg@cybermedia.co.in