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Volvo recalls all of its 72K EX30 cars due to software bug that obscures speedometer
(www.theregister.com)
this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2024
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How is this news? I have recall work done on my Honda almost every time I get an oil change. This is a Volvo software update.
Because it obscures the speedometer which could be dangerous and shows why we shouldn’t have screens for everything. They’ve still got regular gauges on airplanes for backup. I don’t see the need to change away from analog gauges.
It doesn't help that they also just have the one screen.
They could easily have had a secondary display behind the steering wheel that shows only the important info... but no... they followed Tesla's model to cut costs with one screen that does most everything.
This was the worst. I was happy to see a compact EV SUV I can actually afford, and I'm all for big screens; but to remove the instrument cluster/gauge and put THAT on the infotainment screen as well is so dumb.
The least they could've done was include a heads-up projection display as an option.
I'll bet it'll be there in future models.
Really wish there was more regulation on this. Everything core instruments should not require software to function.
Everything is integrated into the computer network for every function… so if you want an old style analog speedometer how analog do you go? Cable on the gearbox (no software, no bugs, no electronics if you choose a mechanical gauge)? Separate sensor near the transmission (basic analog electronics)? Analog readout from the multiplexed network on an electronic gauge?
Cars are already incredibly complicated and expensive to meet current legal requirements.
I think there’s a reasonable amount of digital that can be incorporated. Going back to my original example, Airbus is fly by wire and very safe. However, there are still analog gauges for the important backup functions, or at least single purpose digital displays such as the ISFD. I don’t think it’s wise to have the multimedia display and speedometer display running off the same device.
I agree, people buy cars like this though, to me modern cars are extremely annoying because of this extreme cost-cutting without any thought put into it. They even lack basic functions like dimming the gauge lights that were standard in the 1980s on cheap cars, or turning off a screen completely and still having the steering wheel controls for the radio… turning off ESP for getting out of slippery places that it gets confused by is also a challenge on a lot of cars.
People have very different priorities from commercial users that need an impeccable safety record and no compromise on reliability, they're buying a steel box on wheels to get from A to B, preferably in a fashionable shape.
If you've ever nearly died because the car decided a reflection was an imminent collision risk and braked hard on the motorway, you know that cars are way worse than Boeing.
I had that almost happen once- it didn't actually brake, but it did the very loud "omg we're gonna die" alert, freaked out my wife & kids. Then there's the fun of fighting with the lane keeping assist when it wants to follow the seams in the concrete rather than the painted lines... Fortunately that "feature" can be disabled.
Extreme cost cutting indeed. Because a second screen with a little cable running to it would cost what.. maybe 50 bucks all installed per car.
It's just weird that this kind of stuff is done.
Next stage just remove all screens and stuff and have the customer use an app on their phone.
Are analog gauges more expensive or they just cannot show ads while the driver is idling?
Yes.