1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

If you think you have heard everything....cosmic rays?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by malorn, Mar 16, 2010.

  1. malorn

    malorn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    4,281
    59
    0
    Location:
    "Somewhere in Flyover Country"
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Are cosmic rays really causing Toyota's woes? | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

    WASHINGTON -- It may sound far-fetched, but federal regulators are studying whether sudden acceleration in Toyotas is linked to cosmic rays.

    Radiation from space long has affected airplanes and spacecraft, and is known for triggering errors in computer systems, but has received scant attention in the auto industry.

    I had this emailed to me late last night. I am certainly not very scientific but it would make quite the story..
     
  2. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The Robinson family had to put with "Cosmic Storms" all the time....The Chariot never suddenly accelerated!
    Well OK, it was a '65 Thiokol "Spryte" Snow-cat, not a Toyota!!!
    Lots of Cosmic Storms however.....

    [​IMG]
     
  3. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    639
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Cosmic rays, GIC, EMI, Directed Energy Weapons, all are fascinating

    Especially their impact on sensitive electronics

    Most hardened systems use special radiation hardened microprocessors, which must continue working up to 100 K Rads

    As a point of comparison, 1,000 Rads is a fatal exposure limit for almost 100% of humans. 100,000 Rads is quite a bit higher than that
     
  4. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2009
    971
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Note that the article is based largely on the testimony of someone in a position very similar to Sean Kane.. except this guy runs an EMI testing firm.
     
  5. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2009
    1,002
    84
    7
    Location:
    Denver Metro
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    So when will the Prius Shop start carrying a honkin' big tinfoil hat to place over the entire car? :tinfoil3:
     
  6. moxiequz

    moxiequz Weirdo Social Outcast

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2007
    2,781
    19
    1
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Alternatively you can just go down to Costco (or whatever wholesaler you're closest to) and get enough foil to cover your Prius yourself. It's a good weekend project.

    Don't forget to leave some uncovered areas on the windows - particularly that big front one. Boy, did I learn that lesson the hard way!
     
  7. amm0bob

    amm0bob Permanently Junior...

    Joined:
    May 29, 2008
    7,730
    2,546
    0
    Location:
    The last place on earth to get cable, Sacramento
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    We used to have some electrical problems in the north of Alaska when I was in the service...

    Although, I think if it is gonna affect one car down here, it should affect many more to be evidence of other forces at work other than the car malfunctioning, or the operator error/intent.
     
  8. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    1,181
    420
    0
    Location:
    Whereabouts Unknown
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I propose using a bunch of foil condom wrappers to block the EMI. family planning is good for the environment and so is recycling.
     
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    639
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Even minor solar storms can cause major GIC (Geomagnetically Induced Current) in the northern regions of Alaska and Canada
     
  10. amm0bob

    amm0bob Permanently Junior...

    Joined:
    May 29, 2008
    7,730
    2,546
    0
    Location:
    The last place on earth to get cable, Sacramento
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II

    I'm just saying... I think more than one car would be impacted if that were the case...
     
  11. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    639
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Precisely