Engineering360: "Why did a Tesla veer left before a fatal crash?"

Just further proof that autonomous cars are a long way off. Not to say that driver assist technologies won't continue to evolve, because they will. But Level 5 is decades away. If ever.

Was there ever an FMEA (Failure Modes Effects Analysis completed and tests done to confirm those imposed faults??

Since I don't work for Tesla, I have no idea of what went into their FMEA. But I suspect the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) is looking at their FMEA or FMECA. ("C" for Criticality)

An FMEA is required when an electronic assembly is part of a military system purchased by the Government. It requires that each component in the electronic assembly be analysed to determine what happens to the system. The analysis of the system performance is done for the failure of that component which includes the failure defined as the component changing to the out-of-specification.

The end result is a high reliability system which may be redesigned to reduce component and or reduce manufacturing cost.

Yes, it is a very expensive procedure, but also important when it contributes to the success of a flight mission.

Consider this: An aircraft takes off from an aircraft carrier for a mission of destruction of accurately defined target. The guidance system is set for the T.O. position and for the return position of the rapidly moving aircraft carrier. The aircraft must complete the mission then return to the carrier that may have changed its position while the sun has set so the aircraft must locate it in darkness.

Hopefully, now you might have some idea as to why the FMEA which helps define the Critical in FMECA.

But really, they are in a FRACAS mode now.

It's interesting that the Tesla reportedly tried to have an accident at the same location several times before it was successful. Somebody should check that out.

There was a reason I didn't drop the cash for the Full Self Drive feature. I have driven a lot of miles in my life and have seen so many completely unexpected bonehead moves by human drivers that it was obvious no computer would be able to deal with that any time soon. I think it helped that I have the background and education I have also.

A computer is given the same base line we are. The rules of the road. What the computer doesn't understand is humans will intentionally violate them. Something a computer can not do. A computer will not speed up, cut in front of you, then slam on the brakes. humans do it all the time. A computer is not going to expect that because it is illogical, irrational, irresponsible, and quite dangerous. Score one for humans! My car has NEVER sped up to block the lane when a car puts on its turn signal for a lane change. Never. The car is doing its thing and trusting you, the supposedly smarter, more capable, human, to keep it and you safe. You are the primary it is the secondary. Much the same responsibility split as pilot / copilot when the Co has the stick.

I still think it's easier to drive the car yourself than to remain alert watching that the autopilot does it correctly. With nothing to do, the human brain succumbs to boredom. It's "highway hypnosis" on steroids.

That was my initial assumption as well. However, experience is a great teacher. The trip from Madison Wi to Yellowstone is one long, dull, boring, drive across the vast nothingness of South Dakota with very little traffic.

As I have aged, my ability to drive long distances has grown shorter. I originally allowed two days out and two days back. After the first day I had learned several invaluable lessons that changed the way I ran the rest of the trip which allowed for the side trip down to the Tetons, a full day that didn't exist in the original plan. That is how different this experience really is. The car added a full day to my vacation.

Autopilot was instrumental in this. I discovered after the first day that I was not tired or looking to stop by 6pm, we had dinner, topped up the battery cancelled the reservation and drove another two hours. I wasn't even tired then and went swimming to unwind.

It really does take less effort to monitor. Once you have become familiar with the technology and how it works you can anticipate and predict its response fairly accurately. I was not uncomfortable letting the car handle the driving and I got to sight see. You see, most of the "monitoring" is done by feel. you feel the car moving, you feel the wheel moving and know if its feels right for the circumstance. take a quick glance at the road and then back to contemplating the life of those antelope over there.

In Yellowstone itself the car did the driving and I was a spectator. THANK GOD! for the very first time I got to enjoy the scenery instead of the traffic. And Yellowstone is one of those places where you really don't want to watch the road. Again, fatigue from driving was not an issue. The car is flawless at following and lane keeping in 95% of the situations it encounters, It even displayed (as a motorcycle) and responded to the Buffalo in the road.

SO yes, I am very comfortable with it. The car is now approaching 24,000 miles and at least a third of those are on autopilot.

I think it's proper for the NTSB to be investigating this because autonomous driving is still so new and the cause of regular left steer input at this specific location should be determined but IMO this driver is completely at fault for the accident.

I might think differently (probably not) if the steering error was a random event but this driver knew there was an issue with his car's autopilot at this location yet he still played with his phone instead of monitoring and controlling his car. Playing video games in the driver's seat of a moving car when you are responsible for your own safety and that of others is just stupid.

This old advertising campaign sings true . . . .

But did they really Fart Fig Newtons?

Not that I know of, but I do recall some rather ribald parodies of the Farfegnügen ad campaign.

I'm not worried about self driving vehicles being perfect. I just want them to be better than humans. At least when we have a lot of them on the road they will be more predictable.

Sorry. But. This should have immediate legal changes in our laws, I don’t feel comfortable out on the roads anymore with all these stupid ignorant people behind the wheels. Doing dumb things vs actual driving of their vehicles I would put all the CEO’s

of any driverless vehicle in jail immediately no trial no nothing. They are contributing

‘to these accidents and this. B/S needs to stop. Now. I don’t need to be on the roads

with these pos. Toy cars. With assholes. Playing games

An autonomous vehicle is like any programmed automation. It could work and do what’s its suppose to do 99.9999% of the time,...then for what ever reason, some how a bit gets landed where it’s not suppose to be and goes haywire for one moment.

thing about automation,... you reset it, and you spend some time to try to track it down... but it comes down to working 99.9999% accuracy is acceptable in your process, where autonomous driven vehicles is not. There may need some type of redundancies in the actually program itself, and that may not correct it.