Comment Re:Some things should probably be left alone (Score 1) 178
Drive-by-wire is fine, and actually makes quite a lot of things possible that aren't otherwise.
You need damn good failsafes, though, if you have it.
On my car, a VW TDI with a manual transmission, here are the mechanical failsafes in question:
Ignition switch mechanically breaks current flow to most of the ECU, including to the fuel shutoff solenoid
Clutch pedal mechanically breaks connection between engine and transmission
Neutral position on shifter mechanically breaks connection between input shaft and output shaft of transmission
So, if something goes wrong with the DBW system, I've got three areas to split the power flow, and odds are that they won't fail in a failed position.
And, cable throttles do stick, too.
Now, the annoying one is the Toyotas that had unintended acceleration issues...
Ignition button told the ECU to shut down in software
Automatic, so no clutch pedal
Neutral position on shifter told the trans to shift into neutral, which the trans computer would ignore if the engine was running at max RPM and over 50% throttle