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Prius Black Box

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by DeanFL, Jun 22, 2009.

  1. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

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    Looking through the 608 pg Owners manual (I've got to get a life...).
    Page 486 - "Event Data Recorder". Computer monitors and controls certain aspects of the Prius. "Besides storing data for troubleshooting there is an Event Data Recorder that records data in a crash or a near car crash event."

    Such as:
    Gas engine speed
    Brake applied or not
    Vehicle speed
    Accelerator depressed / level
    Shift lever position
    Seat belts in use
    Driver's seat position
    SRS airbag deployment and diagnostic data
    Front passenger occupant classification

    ..."used for the purpose of improving vehicle safety performance..... EDR does not record sound data such as conversation between passengers."

    Then, points re Disclosure of data. Including that Toyota can use the data as a defense in a law suit. And others - like if requested by police etc.

    Interesting...... Big Brother. Or HAL.

    Do many other cars have this "feature"? The Gen 2?
     
    #1 DeanFL, Jun 22, 2009
  2. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

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    I remember first seeing this in a Lexus 5 years ago. I'd think it's across the board at this point.
     
    #2 jay_man2, Jun 22, 2009
  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Don't all modern cars have it?
     
    #3 fuzzy1, Jun 22, 2009
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Old news. There have been data recorders of one sort or another in cars since computers were installed. What do you think the OBDC is? "As of 2003, there were at least 40 million vehicles equipped with the devices." from this Wiki link: [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_data_recorder]Event data recorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
     
    #4 JimN, Jun 22, 2009
  5. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

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    Begs the question - wonder how many drivers really know of the detailed capability?

    Per Wiki":

    Use as evidence in courts

    Despite alerts and warnings in their vehicle owner's manual, many drivers are not aware of their vehicle's recording capability. Civil liberty and privacy groups have raised concerns about the implications of data recorders 'spying' on car users, particularly as the issue of 'who owns the data' has not yet been fully resolved, and there has been some controversy over the use of recorded data as evidence in court cases and for insurance claims against the driver of a crashed vehicle. But the use of EDR data in civil and criminal court cases is on the rise as they become more accepted as a source reliable empirical evidence in accident reconstruction.[3]
    There have been a number of cases in which a defendant was convicted as a result of data obtained from EDRs. Examples include:

    • In [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales"]New South Wales[/ame], Australia, a teen-aged woman (a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence"]probationary[/ame] driver) was convicted of dangerous driving "causing death/occasioning grievous bodily harm" in 2005. Evidence from the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot"]Peugeot[/ame]'s EDR showed that the car was being driven in excess of the posted speed limit. An injunction against the use of EDR evidence, obtained by the owner of the car (the parents of the defendant), was overturned in the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSW_Supreme_Court"]NSW Supreme Court[/ame].
    • In [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec"]Quebec[/ame], Canada, the driver of a car who sped through a [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_lights"]red light[/ame], crashing into another car at the intersection and killing the other driver, was convicted of "dangerous driving" in 2001 after EDR information revealed that it was he, not the deceased driver of the other car (as the defendant asserted), who was speeding. There were no other witnesses to the crash.
    There have also been cases where data recovered from an EDR proved that the driver was obeying the speed limit.
     
    #5 DeanFL, Jun 22, 2009
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I have full intention of requesting data recording information from the person who hits me with their car and tries to change their story.

    Luckily, that hasn't happened yet, but when it does . . .
     
    #6 TonyPSchaefer, Jun 22, 2009
  7. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

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    Pretty much standard. Most of us don't like Big Brother looking over our shoulders, but basically the only way it can hurt you is if you are lying and it proves you wrong. Eventually you may see auto makers using the information to say you abused the car and cancelling the warranty but I've never seen that occur yet.
     
    #7 wvgasguy, Jun 23, 2009
  8. Lloyd9

    Lloyd9 Junior Member

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    Is there any way to access the data on our own? ie: there are many upgrades/hacks for the Prius now, has someone come up with an access device yet? I would be interested in accessing the data if it records/strores more than the last few minutes.
     
    #8 Lloyd9, Jun 23, 2009
  9. DetPrius

    DetPrius Active Member

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    My uncle works in the service dept. of a dealership of a domestic manufacturer and told me a couple years ago they denied warranty coverage on a failed transmission based on EDR information showing significant abuse. Now, how does one define abuse?
     
    #9 DetPrius, Jun 23, 2009
  10. steve44

    steve44 New Member

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    All modern (recent) cars have this now. Old news.
     
    #10 steve44, Jun 23, 2009
  11. MaggieMay

    MaggieMay Active Member

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    "Hello Dean..." :D
     
    #11 MaggieMay, Jun 23, 2009
  12. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

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    Hmm...very funny. Now I'd see that if I bought a 2001 Odyssey (Honda...). This may be one of those "what the heck does that mean" type of things.

    I still say - it would be great to have a programmable audio feature to play as the P R I U S appears on the MID after power up. Like a ring tone. I think you'd know what song I'd choose....
     
    #12 DeanFL, Jun 23, 2009
  13. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

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    I have not verified it, but I think I remember way back when this first came up that not only does it record the last 30 seconds or so of data (to be used in an accident or failure) but that it saves "significant events" like exceeding the max rpm or top speed
     
    #13 wvgasguy, Jun 23, 2009
  14. MaggieMay

    MaggieMay Active Member

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    :p Very good! The tones computers use every time they boot really bugs some folks - but if you could choose a tone for the 'Ready' signal on a Prius - that would be fun to contemplate!! ('No tone' would have to be an option!)
     
    #14 MaggieMay, Jun 23, 2009
  15. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    These recording devices have been in cars for some time now. And they do record a lot more than just crash related data, which auto maker have used to deny warranty claims.
     
    #15 stream, Jun 23, 2009
  16. RickFlashman

    RickFlashman New Member

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    Your car's actions can be used against you. Anything your car does can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to take a bus instead. If you do not wish this data to be used against you, do not drive the car. Welcome to 2009.
     
    #16 RickFlashman, Jun 23, 2009
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