Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

arstechnica.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 660 posts

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#41

Post by amluto »

I_Am_Nous wrote: post #36
shepherdjerred wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? Brake by wire is already a thing.

If my steering wheel isn't connected to my front wheels mechanically, that's asking for a lot of trust. Previously a severe mechanical issue would be the only thing to worry about. Maybe on an EV with always connected and charged batteries it would be better, but on ICE I can imagine a number of ways the electrical system suddenly fails and now the wheel does nothing, even if just for a short lag. At least on brake b…

Having previously driven a car with a mildly unreliable power steering system, it’s an extremely good thing that the power steering was backed up with a mechanical linkage (that worked very well — it was surprisingly subtle when the power steering crapped out at 30mph).

A drive-by-wire system had better be a lot more reliable and also notice impending failures.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#43

Post by amluto »

bhpm wrote: post #23
cwillu wrote: post #2

A start, but not far enough: anything a driver might be reasonably expected to do while driving should have a physical control. Zero-force, zero-feedback, zero-travel controls should be illegal for such functions.

Wouldn’t it be safer to require all cars to have voice controls? Then the driver doesn’t have to move their hand off the wheel at all.

“Hey car, honk the horn”

“Hey car, signal left”

“Hey car, reverse”

You’re kidding, right? Even if this worked far better than Siri, it’s too slow.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#44

Post by infotainment »

izzydata wrote: post #38
breadwinner wrote: post #11

Couldn't agree more. Tesla is the biggest violator. In new Teslas, they are removing physical stalks, so if you want to reverse the car, you have to use on-screen controls!

Everything I ever hear about Tesla's keeps getting worse and worse. How are they still in business and why does anyone buy one?

Have you seen the other BEVs available in America? There really isn't much choice if you don't want an SUV -- your options are basically a Tesla or a Chevy Bolt.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#45

Post by dkjaudyeqooe »

illumin8 wrote: post #14
breadwinner wrote: post #11

Couldn't agree more. Tesla is the biggest violator. In new Teslas, they are removing physical stalks, so if you want to reverse the car, you have to use on-screen controls!

There are still physical P, R, N, D controls right below the phone chargers. They aren't exactly easy to use, though.

On some models they are above the windscreen.

Ergonomic design at its finest.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#46

Post by doubloon »

shepherdjerred wrote: post #25
I_Am_Nous wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>At least the steering wheel and pedals still behave the same. For now, companies are experimenting with drive by wire. Don't think I like that concept.

Why? Brake by wire is already a thing.

Boeing.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#48

Post by userbinator »

I_Am_Nous wrote: post #18
userbinator wrote: post #16

But the organization wants to see physical controls for turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, the horn Are there really cars where the horn is not a physical button/ring on the steering wheel? IMHO the driving UX peaked in the 1960s, and was largely unchanged into the 2000s, until touch screens started taking over. Compare: https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads... https://images-stag.…

>At least the steering wheel and pedals still behave the same. For now, companies are experimenting with drive by wire. Don't think I like that concept.

Drive-by-wire is at least a decade old if not more.

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#49

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

userbinator wrote: post #16

But the organization wants to see physical controls for turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, the horn Are there really cars where the horn is not a physical button/ring on the steering wheel? IMHO the driving UX peaked in the 1960s, and was largely unchanged into the 2000s, until touch screens started taking over. Compare: https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads... https://images-stag.…

> Are there really cars where the horn is not a physical button/ring on the steering wheel?

Yes: https://antiquecarmuseumofiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/1913-F...

Well ... "are" is kinda stretching it...

Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls

#50

Post by userbinator »

c22 wrote: post #26
userbinator wrote: post #16

But the organization wants to see physical controls for turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, the horn Are there really cars where the horn is not a physical button/ring on the steering wheel? IMHO the driving UX peaked in the 1960s, and was largely unchanged into the 2000s, until touch screens started taking over. Compare: https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads... https://images-stag.…

The pedals do not behave the same.

You mean you don't press the left one to stop, and the right one to go?
Post reply on HN