Black boxes in cars

2007/05/27 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Garraioak

The black box of the planes has an intense color to be able to find it easily. It is very big and heavy compared to the car; the weight of the car is about 50 grams.

NTSB

The truth is that many motor vehicles have a black box, the best known is that of the plane, but also have the boats and also the trains. The famous black box is not black, but orange or intense yellowish. In case of accident, the black box should be easily localizable, it should be striking.

The reading of the data of the black box determines whether the accident was a human error or caused by bad weather, or a breakdown of the plane, the train or the vehicle itself. It serves to clarify the accident.

In the case of cars, trucks and buses, the black box also serves to resolve the accident. In Europe there are not very widespread cars with black box, but there are several car companies, and many times your car has black box without knowing its owners.

The black box collects eleven data from the car, before, during and after the accident.

HTS

In the United States there are quite widespread black box cars: 65% of the cars sold since 2005. And the debate arises because there are those who say to record personal data. However, the organizations of injured in accidents, lawyers and insurance companies in general, show a favorable attitude. Especially because they serve to solve accidents.

Data recorder

The black box of the car collects the data before and after the accident. Before the accident, the car receives the speed it carried, had the lights and flashers on, the ABS was activated, the driver who stepped on the brake and when, the movements of the steering wheel, the passengers had placed the seat belts... And, of course, it also collects the state of the road, was wet or dry, the light there was...

The black box also records what happened at the time of the accident and the operation of the airbag and straps, how the position of the car was modified (for example, if it rotated), where and when it remained...

All these events are recorded in the black box. To do this, it is connected to the electronic system of the car and, in essence, it is a relatively simple tool. It has a battery and accumulator, an interface and a processor for data management, a clock and a compass. All this is well protected, since kutxa must withstand extreme temperatures and impacts (between -40ºC and 85ºC).

The installation of black boxes in the taxis of the German city of Hatcher has managed to reduce the accidents considerably and the driver seems to drive more prudent.

In Europe this tool is not yet regulated, but they already use it in some car fleets: London police, Berlingos, Hatcher taxis in Germany... And all of them have reduced the number of accidents, the most striking data is that of taxis: They have suffered 66% less accidents since the installation of the black box. In fact, it is not a correct way to reduce accidents, but it seems to help change the attitude of the driver, who leads with more prudence.

For this reason, several European groups have proposed that some vehicles should carry black boxes, such as trucks, buses, ambulances, etc. Within a few years all cars will supposedly carry the black box.

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