Data logging is the use of an electronic device to pull information from sensors that measure a multitude of attributes in a given situation. A commonly known data logger would be the black box in an aircraft. The black box is more about recording what has gone wrong than anything else. The device keeps a log of everything from fuel pressue and altitude to the communications incoming and outgoing from the flight. If an accident or other problem occurs, engineers can pull the data from these loggers to help paint a picture of what exactly happened. And while this has been common in the airline industry for some time now, we are only now seeing a strong showing of these types of boxes in the automotive industry.

As technology has boomed inside the cabin and engine bay of the standard four door car, so has the need for more sensors to help monitor these items. Airbags, antilock brakes, traction control and CO2 emissions are all part of a vast network of sensors pulling information from your car into black boxes (known as electronic data recorders, EDRs, in the automotive world). Right now federal regulations are being finalized for EDRs so that standard regulations can be set in place (with Sept. 2012 as the planned date to go into effect). And while these devices are not required by automotive manufacturers, a 2006 NHTSA report showed that 64% of manufacturers were using EDRs in their production vehicles. And while most of these systems are designed to provide data in an accident, some companies are using as a way to determine how a consumer is driving their product.

Take for example Nissan and their Skyline GTR which finally made its debut here in the U.S. with the current model. Can you image purchasing a super car just to drive it like a Toyota Camry or Honda Civic because that is what Nissan expects of you. Nissan does have a simple EDR device in their GTR, but what they also have is a beefed up version called a Vehicle Status Data Recorder (VSDR). This device runs constantly, recording much more than an EDR including engine and wheel speed; and not only for the moments during a crash, but for a number of days.  Imagine a video security camera that records a week of footage before taping over itself, holding the last week of footage at all times. Now image that in your car, with Nissan claiming the data is used for "servicing, diagnosing and performing warranty repairs." That doesn't sound good...

And its not. Why? Well in the GTR for example, you have the option to turn off something called Vehicle Dynamic Control, which controls the traction and stability governors. Nissan's manual states that turning this system off can potentially void the warranty. Why? Because this type of system is typically turned off in a race setting and racing your car is something that will typically void your warranty (and please understand I don't mean the Indy 500 when I say racing. What I mean is taking it to a track and driving a few hot laps with a dozen other cars on the track at the same time). So potentially you could race your GTR at the track and keep it in immactulate condition, but still have your warranty voided by their VSDR device.

And yes, it only saves up to a weeks worth of data so you could always plan around that, but there is that slight chance that the car has a problem only two days after racing it. What then? And this is all leading to the slippery slope of dealers using your data recorders to warrant their charging you and voiding your warranty. Will that actually happen? Who knows, but how often do you trust a car dealership?

And while this situation is not a great reason for data recording, there is a good side to it all. As any insurance company will say, teen drivers are the most likely to end up in an accident for any number of reasons. And of course every parent worries about their 16 year old son or daughter driving on their own. I remember my parents having worries about my driving from Sacramento to Los Angeles the first few times I had to. Well now data recorders are being used to help monitor driving and hopefully reduce accidents.

Companies are currently marketing special data recorders to families, medical, police and private industries who would like their vehicles to record their driver's habits. Not only do these devices keep a log of trips made in the vehicle, but they can also warn the driver when they handle the car incorrectly. Slamming on the brakes, speeding and lateral G force can all cause a loud beeping noise in the vehicle, warning the driver of unsafe driving.

This gives parents the chance to monitor their teen's driving habits and find any issues that might be common, while other companies can find their drivers who are more prone to poor driving and may cause an accident or potential lawsuit. I can only image these systems being a great way to lower insurance rates, much like home security systems can lower your home owners insurance. And while they may not make a new driver happy, they may keep him/her from making a fatal mistake on the road.

Sites referenced:

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/FREE/809189970/1506

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/22/technology/circuits/22DRIV.html?pagewanted=1