Toyota's problem
kathaksung
Decade ago, I have read a news said that there was a secret team which
design special program embedded in electronic chips so in emergency,
Pentagon could activate those spy program to paralyze enemy's
electronic devices, computers and weapons. Since most computer
microprocessors are supplied by US firm, US takes a big strategy
advantage over other countries.
That strategy has been used in domestic surveillance.
Last year, I bought a pocket video camcorder. I use it to monitor the
entry path of my home when I was out. I worry that the Feds may came
to my house to do some perpetrate job. The camcorder shows a strange
character. It works sometimes, but other times the memory was
blackened with the word "File failed". Since each time I made sure the
camcorder was working on "record" function, I think the Feds had
remote controlled the camcorder with embedded program. They blackened
the memory of the camcorder when they had activity in the yard.
Last year, I was blocked to internet for months with my home computer.
I had to go to library. The public computer limited to two hours
service, so I bought a notebook. There is no time limit for wireless
service.
At the time when I looked for low priced notebook, an article in a
Chinese newspaper I used to read said that the best quality notebook
brands are Acer and Toshiba. The two were supplied by nearby store. It
seems the Feds want me to choose from these two brands. At last I
bought an Acer for its low price. Like that camcorder, this notebook
gave me a lot of headache. The wireless function worked well on the
first day, then for more than a week same function stopped working.
Library staffs tried and failed too and said they didn't know why.
Finally in a computer tutoring class, the instructor got it through by
click on a link "Continue to this website (not recommended)." in a
page "There is a problem with this website's security certificate.".
So the notebook now can only go wireless in a tricky way with the
"Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage". But even that "not
recommended" link once had disappeared and disabled wi-fi function. So
I know any time the Feds could cut internet connection with their
embedded program.
The new notebook also doesn't work with Microsoft Word because it
requires the product key. The product key is stuck at the bottom of
the computer, but it always has "incorrect key" result after I
entering that code. They alter the original code in my notebook.
I don't think the camcorder and the computer have a mood like human
that they take a rest if they are tired and return to work when they
are happy. They are manipulated by embedded program.
Recently, the car produced by Toyota encountered with a big problem of
sudden acceleration. The problem was reported long time ago, but
Toyota couldn't find the cause. At first it blamed the episodes on
floor mats that entrapped the pedals. Then it claims it was caused by
sticky gas pedals.
Since the media make it a hot topic recently, I think the timing is
very important. They have a purpose.
1. The US auto maker giants GM and Chrysler almost go bankruptcy last
year if the government hadn't supported them with financial aid. To
recover, US automakers have to take back the market share from their
foreign rivals. Toyota is the biggest rival.
2. Japan and US have a dispute in its military base.
Quote, “US airbase tests relations with Japan
By Roland Buerk
BBC News, Tokyo
Last week, writing in the New York Times former Assistant Secretary of
Defence Joseph Nye described the Pentagon as “properly annoyed” .
http://www.emoiz.com/say-sayonara-to-okinawa-the-absurdity-of-us-military-bases-in-japan/
Then I saw such a report:
Quote, "No easy answer to why Toyota accelerators stick
Experts say it is likely a series of issues rather than a single
problem
updated 4:15 p.m. PT, Thurs., Jan. 28, 2010
WASHINGTON - Nothing illustrates that more than the contradictory
statements from the two companies involved. Toyota Motor Corp. is
telling the government that it thinks a friction problem in its
accelerator pedal mechanisms may make the pedal "harder to depress,
slower to return, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a
partially depressed position."
CTS Corp., the Elkhart, Ind., supplier that makes the devices for
Toyota, said in a statement Wednesday that the friction problem
accounts for fewer than a dozen cases of stuck accelerators, "and in
no instance did the accelerator actually become stuck in a partially
depressed condition."
.....Outside safety experts say possible causes also include the
complicated electronic sensors that relay the message from the gas
pedal to the engine, the design and location of the sensor system, a
lack of a fail-safe override mechanism, and even a certain media-fed
awareness that puts more people on the lookout for the problem.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35110966/ns/business-autos/page/2/
The mechanism of accelerator pedal is simple. How couldn’t a big firm
with strong engineer resource find the fault? I believe what the CTS
Corp says that it is not the pedal problem. When the acceleration
system has a mood like my computer and my camcorder have, Toyota can
never solve the problem.