RE: Drive by wire, very limited Alfa content...

["Storhok, Eric (E.M.)" <estorhok@domain.elided>]

brian,
Point well made.

I can't directly tell you what went on for suspension thing, no idea what went on there.  But, yes, electronics were held in very high regard.  One way to look at this is that most companies are filled with people who doubt electronics just like a lot of you, so we are actually required to show that things were thought of to the extent that a large team could think of.

If you don't want to be reassured, then there is nothing I can do.  All I can do is tell you what I know the industry is doing.

Eric Storhok
Core Emissions and Fuel Economy Team
Advanced Powertrain Engineering
(313)33x75011
MD 35, FPC-B
Ford Motor Company


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Shorey [mailto:bshorey@domain.elided]
> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 9:00 AM
> To: Storhok, Eric (E.M.); 'alfa'
> Subject: RE: Drive by wire, very limited Alfa content...
> 
> 
> > Its interesting to read perceptions of automotive electronics.
> > Most people seem to be very leery of my industry when it regards
> > electronics and safety.
> >
> > I think that the doubters might be surprised to actually find out
> > what our standards are, as they are quite strict.  Some are
> > actually industry standards, others are internal requirements.
> > But when you add them all up, the standards are very stringent-
> > in many ways similar to the aircraft industry.  Not exact, as one
> > does not need to land a plane after failures...
> <snip>
> 
> Eric,
> 
> Some companies, like Ford, don't do a lot to raise my 
> confidence.  I look at
> all the finger pointing between Ford and Firestone and all I 
> see are two
> companies trying to avoid liability, not make things any safer.
> 
> Are the electronics any different than the suspension systems?
> 
> And I think it would be nice to be able to land a plane after 
> a failure..
> 
> bs

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