Wednesday 9th July 2003

Numpty Toys of the Future

Electronics for all - numpties rejoice

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[pdV6]

Bosch said:

"Other features", he continued, "require more sophisticated technology. In two years' time, for instance, we will produce what we call ESPlus, which will include ‘Brake Disc Wiping’ and ‘Electronic Brake Prefill’. The first is great for wet conditions, momentarily and regularly touching brake pads on the discs to displace any water. The second reacts if the driver abruptly takes his foot off the accelerator, readying the braking system for an emergency stop by actually moving the brake pads against the brake discs before braking begins. This significantly shortens the total braking distance."

I thought Merc already had this in place on the SL?

[CVP]

Bosch said:

"Other features", he continued, "require more sophisticated technology. In two years' time, for instance, ‘Brake Disc Wiping’ is great for wet conditions, momentarily and regularly touching brake pads on the discs to displace any water.

Hopefully they will make sure this doesn't illuminate the brake lights or the roads will be full of people with the brake lights flicking on and off momentarily.

Doh that's already happening isn't it?

Chris

[victormeldrew]

said:

Before long any fool will be able to lollop into a car and stab vaguely at the pedals to drive a car.

And this differs from the current situation how exactly?

[DustyC]

Looks like driving will become as exciting as catching a train.

[cdp]

I like the stop-start. Imagine you forget to turn it off, next in line at a roundabout. The driver in front decides that with launch control engaged (and his jacked-up, chromed S type back axle visible to onlookers) he can just make it ahead of the juggernaut thats comming from the left.....

[ATG]

Either Mazda or Subaru had a hill start thing on their estates in the USA fifteen years ago. If you came to a halt on a slope, you fully depressed the brake pedal to engage a parking break which then automatically released as you started to pull away.

[JonRB]

ATG said:

Either Mazda or Subaru had a hill start thing on their estates in the USA fifteen years ago. If you came to a halt on a slope, you fully depressed the brake pedal to engage a parking break which then automatically released as you started to pull away.

Damn - beat me to it. It wasn't just the USA models though. I'm sure we had a UK-spec Subaru GLX Estate back in the early eighties that did something like this.

>> Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 9th July 14:36

[Mr E]

pdV6 said:

Bosch said: "Other features", he continued, "require more sophisticated technology. In two years' time, for instance, we will produce what we call ESPlus, which will include ‘Brake Disc Wiping’ and ‘Electronic Brake Prefill’. The first is great for wet conditions, momentarily and regularly touching brake pads on the discs to displace any water. The second reacts if the driver abruptly takes his foot off the accelerator, readying the braking system for an emergency stop by actually moving the brake pads against the brake discs before braking begins. This significantly shortens the total braking distance." I thought Merc already had this in place on the SL?

Not sure. Sounds like something they would have though.

The only idea that I actually like of the whole lot. Improves stopping power without taking control from the driver....

[ChrisD]

I'm curious about how automatic-hand-brake equipped cars will perform in Paris...

[Bodo]

ChrisD said:

I'm curious about how automatic-hand-brake equipped cars will perform in Paris...

dent-ish

[MEMSDesign]

ATG said:

Either Mazda or Subaru had a hill start thing on their estates in the USA fifteen years ago. If you came to a halt on a slope, you fully depressed the brake pedal to engage a parking break which then automatically released as you started to pull away.

Subaru Legacies have always had a feature where the brake was held on electroniclly for hill starts. You could just take your foot off the brake and pull away on hills, without it rolling back. My Dad had several at least ten years ago with these features.

[james_j]

If anyone actually NEEDS (some of) this type of driver control aid, should they really be on the road at all / should they have passed their driving test?

[senake]

Handbrake-less turns could become a new skill...

[hertsbiker]

clever stuff. I wonder how much of it will still be around in 20 years time? come to think about it, what will people make of our loud & relatively crude (over powered?) machines in 20 years time? I see BHP coming down, torque going up, and MPG being king. NOthing else other than safety / comfort will matter to the brainwashed (brain dead?) 2020 generation. We'll all be past it!!!!!!

[mrsd]

Muppets who can't drive learn on autos, rather than stickshift, so already 'benefit' from easy hillstarts and ease of use in traffic jams. So the point in engineering these into manual cars using the ESP system is....????

[Robbo1]

I drove my dad's 2-month old Impreza on Sunday (not a turbo model sadly) and it has the "hill start" feature.
We only tested it reversing down the drive I hasten to add!