Sikes accelerator/braking data

Sayeth google: "Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the event data recorder — a car's version of the "black box" inspected after plane crashes — would be of no use to investigators because it only stores information when the airbags are deployed. The box only stores four to six seconds of information before the airbags go off, he said.
But investigators were able to download valuable information from the hybrid's control computer system, which showed the car was functioning normally, Toyota said.
The computer also showed that Sikes alternated from brake pedal to gas pedal at least 250 times — the limit of the computer's storage ability. Toyota said the front brake pads were nearly destroyed."

 

Your point? None of this is new. We know what they said. We
want to know what they DID.
.
_H*

 

The limit of events recorded is likely to be 255 based on common 8bit tech and the fact that 250 events happen to be the same event type makes it unlikely this was accumated over a long duration of time. The repeated data entries also makes it unlikely there was a "crash" of an ECU as the system was clearly running and able to log events and continue monitoring system operation. The fact that no malfunctions could be found during their limited investigation also suggests that no major failure occured as I'm sure there are other diagnostic logs reporting normal engine activity they could have accessed showing that the ECU was still alive and kicking. All pure speculation on my part, but if I were a bettig man I would bet against Sikes

 

This is interesting:

"After the press conference, however, a Toyota representative confirmed to ABC News that the electronic data did not show how hard the brake was being pressed. "The level of brake application is not recorded," said Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons, "only that the brakes were completely released and applied."
Lyons also clarified Michels statement about the number of times Sikes must have hit the brakes and the accelerator. He said that the data showed that Sikes pressed and released the brakes 254 times, and did not show Sikes pressing on the accelerator, only that the throttle remained open throughout the incident."

Runaway Toyota Prius Driver: 'He Thought He Was Going to Die' DEK: California Highway Patrol's Official Report Offers Harrowing Narrative of James Sikes' March 8 Ride - ABC News

 

Is Toyota 'clarifying' their earlier assertion? I wonder why?

Curious minds would like to know.

 

That makes more sense. If I were to fake it, I'd keep my foot on the gas and repeatedly engage the brake lightly to wear them out and in order to fool bystanders.

 

Please read Lyons statement again:

"Lyons also clarified Michels statement about the number of times Sikes must have hit the brakes and the accelerator. He said that the data showed that Sikes pressed and released the brakes 254 times, and did not show Sikes pressing on the accelerator, only that the throttle remained open throughout the incident."

Does this mean he didn't touch the accelerator and the throttle remained open?

 

Oooooops.

 

If the 250 data points pertain only to brake application and not accelerator then they cannot tell you whether or not he touched the accelerator.

Do they have any data showing the physical throw of the accelerator if the 250 data points indicate nothing about the accelerator or the throttle?

 

To my understanding of the statement. It implied that accelerator data show that no application of the accelerator was recorded!

Toyota have to clarify on this!

 

Autoenginuity has updated their software and I understand it dumps the hybrid diagnostic data. The right answer is to find someone with the package and with their NHW20 Prius, document the specifications and performance of the diagnostic table:

• table data persistence - what resets the table?
• brake counter - what level of braking causes a count?
• accelerator application - if there is one, what level counts?
• ICE rpm vs "resonance" - what threshold?

By mapping the values to vehicle thresholds, we can then understand the Sikes data. But we also need the raw table, not just informative but interpreted statements. We should be able to get this from the NHTSA.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm surprised with all the apparent brake pumping, and go pedal pushes, that witnesses haven't been found, and CHP in-car video hasn't been made available to show the brake lights going on and off. Such information would certainly help Toyota in explaining this data, or, without brake light pulsation, help Sikes prove he had his foot firmly on the brake the whole time.
Is there helicopter video that might help here as well?

 

The CHP officer stated that the brake lights were going on and off. You must have missed it.

Tom

 

I can't imagine Toyota held its press conference to discredit Sikes before they read the CHP report. Makes me wonder who is calling the shots at Toyota? I think anything is possible for Toyota now, this is not going to go away anytime soon. I originally thought this would have blown over by the middle of march. Now, i think it may intensify again.

 

I don't see anything in the CHP report that would change anything. The CHP officer's assessment of Sikes behavior/demeanor may would also be explained by the nervousness of someone in the process of attempting to commit a grand scam.

Is it normal for the police report to be filed two days after the incident?

 

I think some of this misfire could have been because of the Issa staffer, and congressional memo. Those statements seem dubious now. The press conference was clearly premature. Bad move Toyota.

 

The final CHP report confirms that Mr. Sikes was just trying to get a new car to replace the one he was about to turn in. Not even a very good actor, although he's had a lot of experience. The officer is probably aware of the fact that his ability to judge the driver's character is pretty limited.

The public is in the hands of a bully- the media. There is only one way to deal with the media in this country- fight tooth and nail. Apologizing to them only makes them think you're weak, which raises their blood lust further.

 

Absent an accident or violation of the vehicle code or other law, a report is generally not filed. I would imagine the only reason a report was filed in this instance was due to the high public profile of the vehicle that was involved.

 

The worst part for Toyota was holding the presser and then right on the heels of the presser, having to 'clarify' remarks made by Toyota's 'spokesman' at the presser.

 

True that. You could also ask Toyota. Except that I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Toyota to give you the raw data.