Steuergeräte: No Real-Time Data Storage?

Hello,

Why don't modern engine control units (ECUs) actually have a data storage system that saves all the important data at the moment of an error?


The possibilities for troubleshooting would reach a new dimension, especially when dealing with intermittent errors.
I work in the field of mechanical engineering, and our own control system has been capable of doing something similar for 15 years.

Has any car manufacturer ever done something like that?

Best regards, Rainer.

Hi,

That's not such a good idea. How would a workshop justify spending days troubleshooting, all in the name of improving revenue?

Regards,
Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

"Micha"

Did you perhaps choose the name 'Mephisto' by chance?

In addition to that, there is the legally binding nature of such data, and ultimately...
also also the price increase (more storage, more processing power, etc.).

Best regards,
Rudi

datsun wrote:

...why don't modern engine control units actually have a data storage system, where, for example, all important data at the moment of an error are saved? ....

Because that is not permitted for data protection reasons.
Such a recording could be used to extract a driving profile, or to determine the speed at which the vehicle was traveling in the event of an accident. This would open the door to the misuse of this data. Its use is only permitted in the commercial sector under certain conditions.

The UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services) system from Siemens VDO Kienzle is also an exception. In this case, the driver of the vehicle must be clearly informed that they are being monitored. If they do not want this, the system can be deactivated.

I remember a Grundig VCR that had an operating hours counter. Due to a lawsuit filed by a customer, this feature had to be disabled.

Hi,

Is that what you mean? But it depends on the control unit.

Regards, Rainer.

Hello everyone,
I hadn't even thought about the data privacy aspect, which is a real shame.


I suspect that the 'Freeze Mode' only works while you are online. But do the data really reflect the exact moment, or perhaps are they from three samples earlier? In the future, when CAN bus becomes standard, this problem will probably be negligible.


From which version is this mode available?

Best regards.

Rainer S.

Hi,
Privacy is relative. Who's to say that a short circuit or grounding event, which occurred sporadically, wasn't already recorded before the accident, especially if no timestamps were included?
Furthermore, such a function could be optionally disabled by default and only activated during test drives or at the customer's request, possibly with a warning light.
It's probably just simple cost considerations.