Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Martin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm

It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give
details...anyone know anything about this?

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Adam Beneschan]

On Feb 4, 4:47 am, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm
>
> It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give
> details...anyone know anything about this?

I was wondering the same thing; since the acceleration and brakes are
actually controlled by computer (from what I've read), I was wondering
what language was used to develop the software.  However: (1) the
linked article is mostly about flaws in the braking system, which has
not yet cost Toyota anywhere near $2B; (2) I can't find anywhere where
the article refers to a software problem (thus, I have no idea what
you mean by "[It] states that this is a software problem"); (3) I've
seen some rumblings that the accelerator problems is caused by the
electronics rather than a sticky gas pedal as Toyota is currently
claiming, but this doesn't necessarily mean a software problem.  It
could be a hardware design problem in which the hardware isn't able to
sufficiently withstand electronic interference, or something like
that.  And if that's the case, Ada certainly can't do anything to
help.

                                       -- Adam

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Martin]

On Feb 4, 4:14 pm, Adam Beneschan <a...@irvine.com> wrote:
> On Feb 4, 4:47 am, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
>
> >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm
>
> > It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give
> > details...anyone know anything about this?
>
> (1) the linked article is mostly about flaws in the braking system, which has
> not yet cost Toyota anywhere near $2B;

It's the figure quoted for lost revenue in the paragraph "Profits
Surge".


> (2) I can't find anywhere where
> the article refers to a software problem (thus, I have no idea what
> you mean by "[It] states that this is a software problem");

The original article headline mentioned software...but they've gone
and changed it!

Cheers
-- Martin

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Hibou57 (Yannick Duchêne)]

On 4 fév, 17:14, Adam Beneschan <a...@irvine.com> wrote:
> (2) I can't find anywhere where
> the article refers to a software problem (thus, I have no idea what
> you mean by "[It] states that this is a software problem");
> [...]
>
>                                        -- Adam


On 4 fév, 17:58, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
> The original article headline mentioned software...but they've gone
> and changed it!
>
> Cheers
> -- Martin


It's either still there or back : the paper says :

> The Japanese government has also ordered Toyota
> to investigate brake problems but the company says
> it was "alleviated" at the end of last month by
> making changes to the software in the braking system.

(last words)

The paper may have been edited multiple times. I guess in such
circumstance, every one take great care of each public assertions.

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Adam Beneschan]

On Feb 4, 8:58 am, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
> On Feb 4, 4:14 pm, Adam Beneschan <a...@irvine.com> wrote:
>
> > On Feb 4, 4:47 am, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
>
> > >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm
>
> > > It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give
> > > details...anyone know anything about this?
>
> > (1) the linked article is mostly about flaws in the braking system, which has
> > not yet cost Toyota anywhere near $2B;
>
> It's the figure quoted for lost revenue in the paragraph "Profits
> Surge".

The $2B loss stems from its "worldwide recall of potentially faulty
vehicles".  Most of that has to do with *acceleration* (including
possibly faulty floor mats that trap the gas pedal), not the braking
system.  Actually, I don't think there have been any recalls yet due
braking system problems.

Yannick pointed out that an earlier version of the article did mention
a possible software problem involving the braking system.  However,
this could not have led to the big loss, since the braking system
hasn't cost them much so far.  As for the acceleration, which *has*
cost them a whole lot, I haven't seen anything that positively says
it's a software problem.  To my mind, it could well be a software
problem, but I haven't read about anyone suspecting that (not to the
same extent that some suspect a software problem with the brakes).
There have been theories that the "electronics" is a problem, but that
would include hardware.

                                  -- Adam

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Alex R. Mosteo]

Martin wrote:

> On Feb 4, 4:14 pm, Adam Beneschan <a...@irvine.com> wrote:
>> On Feb 4, 4:47 am, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
>>
>> >http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm
>>
>> > It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give
>> > details...anyone know anything about this?
>>
>> (1) the linked article is mostly about flaws in the braking system, which
>> has not yet cost Toyota anywhere near $2B;
> 
> It's the figure quoted for lost revenue in the paragraph "Profits
> Surge".

And the reputation cost will be... wow.

> 
> 
>> (2) I can't find anywhere where
>> the article refers to a software problem (thus, I have no idea what
>> you mean by "[It] states that this is a software problem");
> 
> The original article headline mentioned software...but they've gone
> and changed it!
> 
> Cheers
> -- Martin

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Colin Paul Gloster]

On Thu, 4 Feb 2010, Martin sent:

|------------------------------------------------------------|
|"                                                           |
|http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm             |
|                                                            |
|It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give|
|details...anyone know anything about this?"                 |
|------------------------------------------------------------|

Ask Zoe Brain.

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[sjw]

On Feb 4, 12:47 pm, Martin <martin.do...@btopenworld.com> wrote:
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8497471.stm
>
> It's states that this is a software problem but doesn't give
> details...anyone know anything about this?

Actually it says 'The Japanese government has also ordered Toyota to
investigate brake problems but the company says it was "alleviated" at
the end of last month by making changes to the software in the braking
system.' It's quite common in my line of business to have to accept
the rest of the system as it is, warts and all, and compensate for any
of their problems in our software.

Re: Any Ada in this? Or would Ada have helped Toyota save $2b?...

[Jeffrey R. Carter]

sjw wrote:
> 
> Actually it says 'The Japanese government has also ordered Toyota to
> investigate brake problems but the company says it was "alleviated" at
> the end of last month by making changes to the software in the braking
> system.' It's quite common in my line of business to have to accept
> the rest of the system as it is, warts and all, and compensate for any
> of their problems in our software.

"How many hardware engineers does it take to change a light bulb? None; we'll 
fix it in software."

-- 
Jeff Carter
"He didn't get that nose from playing ping-pong."
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
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