Australian inventor and all-round genius Dr David Warren is widely considered to be the father of the “black box” Flight Data Recorder (FDR). His invention helped make flying safer by giving investigators valuable insights into the mechanical goings-on of a crashed aircraft. What may surprise you is that for the last twenty years similar devices have been installed in our cars.
Event Data Recorders (EDRs) are the automotive equivalent of an aircraft’s FDR. These devices record acceleration and deceleration forces, engine RPM, temperature, oil pressure and a host of other things. After a crash, the information can be recovered and studied, aiding investigators.
The U.S. Department of Transport (DoT) and subsidiary arm the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hope to standardise the data these devices collect and make them mandatory on all new cars and light trucks by 2013. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which includes GM, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota among others are all supportive of this move.
Some 64% of 2005 passenger vehicles had EDRs already and automakers GM, Ford, Toyota and Mazda all use them in some or all of their models. It is claimed that the information these devices collect can be an invaluable resource for automakers and investigators alike in making our cars and in turn roads safer.
By Tristan Hankins
