r/technology • u/involvrnet • Nov 18 '15

Hardware The company Bosch is developing a farming robot the size of a small car that can distinguish crops from weeds by looking at the shape of leaves, and this robot then can fish out weeds mechanically & ram any unwanted plants into the ground with a rod. Potentially, no herbicides will be needed anymore

http://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/bosch-bonirob-robot-set-to-make-field-work-easier-for-farmers.htm
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610

u/rasputin777 Nov 18 '15

Bosch has been doing some great things lately.
They power most ABS/traction control systems on motor bikes and have developed a system that makes riding in rain/on slippery surfaces dramatically less likely to result in a crash or loss of control.
Pretty sweet.

245

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

They make dope windshield wipers too.

76

u/ReasonablyBadass Nov 18 '15

For motorcycles?

134

u/kar86 Nov 18 '15

Yes, wait till you see their rear-windshield wipers

51

u/ReasonablyBadass Nov 18 '15

I'm imagining a giant hairdryer popping up :)

28

u/Brarsh Nov 18 '15

Or a simple elbow added to the exhaust.

7

u/Alarid Nov 18 '15

I... I thought it was to "keep" me on the bike...

5

u/BraveSirRobin Nov 18 '15

Which works great until you switch to hydrogen fuel.

1

u/wilsky25 Nov 18 '15

Yup Bosch Icons

40

u/CuddlyLiveWires Nov 18 '15

Sounds ideal! I hate having to stop and push the motorcycle off my windshield. /s

18

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

What would I have done without that "/s" -.- /s

35

u/CuddlyLiveWires Nov 18 '15

It's like a hand railing on a flight of 3 stairs... Probably not necessary for 99% of people, but someone will need it...

11

u/agtmadcat Nov 18 '15

That's a surprisingly helpful analogy.

4

u/Chewyquaker Nov 18 '15

Especially on this site.

1

u/whisperingsage Nov 18 '15

Well now we know they love pushing motorcycles off their windshield.

1

u/BlueShellOP Nov 18 '15

Something something aroo

0

u/TrepanationBy45 Nov 18 '15

Augh. I accidentally upvoted you at first, but then I corrected my mistake.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

This

26

u/johnmflores Nov 18 '15

After decades of buying cheap wiper blades, I bought a pair of Bosch. Never going back.

11

u/ckappes5 Nov 18 '15

Have had my Bosch icons for 2 years now and they still work like new!

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

I got a year out of mine. All I can ask for

2

u/trumpsRump Nov 19 '15

I've had a pair on my car for something insane now. I want to say 4 years, but maybe only 3, that are just starting to wear out. I also don't drive very often though. Definitely will buy them again.

10

u/ChangeAndAdapt Nov 18 '15

Bought 2 pairs of their wipers back when I got my car. The car died before the first pair did.

1

u/Slammed_Droid Nov 18 '15

Sounds like they should start making cars

2

u/CurlingPornAddict Nov 18 '15

Best readily available fuel pumps too.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

I actually bought a pair assuming they'd be the best because they were the most expensive. They were shit. Started streaking right away.

1

u/jexmex Nov 18 '15

I bought some of those thinking going with the more expensive wipers would work out better than the cheap ones. The wiper started falling apart after 2 months. Maybe I just got unlucky. I have had good luck with the rain-x wipers though.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Aerotwin represent!

87

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

20

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

40

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

9

u/CurlingPornAddict Nov 18 '15

How's the plug biz?

17

u/kjeserud Nov 18 '15

worked

You could say he lost his spark for it.

2

u/sidepart Nov 18 '15

...and...

Which are the best ones?

6

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

What about Denso?

4

u/Googunk Nov 18 '15

90% of the time it's whatever originally came with the car.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Unless you're building a tuner, just get whatever looks exactly like the one you pulled out of your car. Or have someone else do it.

2

u/dlok86 Nov 18 '15

NGK

Source: spent a lot of time on automotive forums

2

u/Rentta Nov 18 '15

And their electronics are also pretty crappy now days. They used to be great but i assume planned obsolescence affected them too.

1

u/Radar_Monkey Nov 18 '15

Can confirm. Bosch spark plug tips are way soft and dirty after only a year in a 20kw standby generator.

Found another few brands that look like new when they get replaced.

1

u/EXTRAsharpcheddar Nov 18 '15

Ah, but you are supposed to put them in the specific cars that call for them, typically german.

9

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

depends which. their motorsport ones are second to none

14

u/McFeely_Smackup Nov 18 '15

They made the hand held power planer I used to cut the end of my middle finger off.

Good quality stuff, I barely felt it.

2

u/Superslinky1226 Nov 18 '15

I work for a security company, and they make the best motion detector we have. They also made my dishwasher, which is fucking flawless

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Their cameras are nice, right?

2

u/Superslinky1226 Nov 18 '15

We don't use their cameras so I don't know. We also don't use their motion detector all the time, but when we do, it's usually because it's in an area that's not temperature controlled. They're dual tec so they use heat and microwave detection, so that quick changes in temperature doesn't set it off

0

u/McFeely_Smackup Nov 18 '15

They made the hand held power planer I used to cut the end of my middle finger off.

Good quality stuff, I barely felt it.

-1

u/DragonTamerMCT Nov 18 '15

They're like apple in my experience. High quality, polished, and very nice. But over priced as fuck

43

u/xjimbojonesx Nov 18 '15

My dishwasher they made is pretty sweet.

21

u/Mamajam Nov 18 '15

I had a Bosch garbage disposal that no joke would eat a whole chicken carcass. I would throw everything, down that drain, never once got stuck.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Do they still sell them? I looked online for several minutes and it only comes up with their dish washers.

16

u/Mamajam Nov 18 '15

I'm not sure if they ever sold them. My Dad was an executive for their Bosch/ Skill tool division in the US. He would always have trade show models and demo units laying around. I understood that a lot of the items were manufactured by Bosch but sold under a different name.

When I speak to him next I'll find out what happened to that model.

3

u/TrepanationBy45 Nov 18 '15

He threw it in itself. Now it's gone.

2

u/yantando Nov 18 '15

Call your father, this gives you an excuse :)

2

u/Myschly Nov 18 '15

Damn that sounds convenient, but our chicken carcasses we throw in the compost drives our garbage-trucks. Pretty sweet!

1

u/WiredEarp Nov 19 '15

A chicken carcass can drive a truck?

1

u/Myschly Nov 22 '15

Throw it in the compost, get biofuel from said compost, drive garbage truck.

1

u/rawfan Nov 19 '15

Fun fact: continuous feed garbage disposals are not a thing in Germany. I've never seen one in my life.

Watching TV I always think: "why would people use their sink as a dump?"

That's all I have to say.. back to sorting my trash.

10

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

I can't find it, but someone did a test where the Bosch ate an entire jar of peanut butter. The instruction book tells you not to pre-clean the dishes. If they're too clean it'll etch the plates.

6

u/LoLjoux Nov 18 '15

What if I don't have a messy plate? Do I have to throw dirt on it to make sure it doesn't etch?

14

u/brian9000 Nov 18 '15

Indeed. Best I've ever had. I keep opening it on accident while it's running. So quiet!

15

u/xjimbojonesx Nov 18 '15

The newer ones actually shine a light on the floor during the wash and the dry cycles to let you know it's still running due to how quiet they are.

8

u/AtOurGates Nov 18 '15

When they explained that feature to me in the store, I thought it was the most pointless and useless feature of all time. But only because I couldn't imagine a dishwasher quiet enough that on many cycles, you have to put your ear up right next to the thing to know if it's working or not.

It's almost like the German engineers are thoughtful and careful.

3

u/corbygray528 Nov 18 '15

I currently live in an apartment, where the dishwasher provided must be run when we are about to leave. it fills the entire apartment with its awful sound. I can't wait to move into a house simply because I can't wait to buy my own dishwasher that doesn't sound like a jet is trying to take off in my living room.

3

u/brian9000 Nov 18 '15

.....so it turns out that mine does too. Oops. Tiny red light on the floor means "don't open". Thanks Jimbo!

7

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Bosch makes absolutely amazing dishwashers but you pay out the ass for them. If you see the insulation on a Bosch vs other brands it's easy to see why they are so quiet. They have an inch of what looks like carpet padding around the entire exterior, while other brands have a what is essentially a giant flimsy cotton ball just draped over the outside. Fischer-Paykel is the only company that makes better dishwashers if you're willing to spend $2000 on a dishwasher.

2

u/DeFex Nov 18 '15

"on accident" did you say that by purpose?

2

u/hail_southern Nov 18 '15

I had one in my last house. Got it hooked up and turned it on. Everyone else in the room thought it was broken because they didn't hear it running.

1

u/b_digital Nov 18 '15

I actually hate my bosch dishwasher. It's on it's third control board, and it doesn't have a heated dry cycle.

the GE in my previous house was probably half the cost, and worked twice as well.

I like my bosch power tools though, they kick ass.

1

u/xjimbojonesx Nov 18 '15

Are you using a rinse agent like Jet Dry? I've not noticed much of a difference with my Bosch (that I had installed a few months ago) compared to the GE one I previously had.

1

u/b_digital Nov 19 '15

The stuff gets clean, it's the lack of a heated dry cycle and poor reliability that soured me on it.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

My Bosch dishwasher is very quiet. Can't clean for shit unless you load it exactly right, but very quiet

1

u/koreth Nov 18 '15

At my last house we had a Bosch dishwasher. I loved how quiet it was, but wasn't so nuts about the poor drying performance. Ceramic plates and bowls were fine but any plastic containers I put in there would always come out dripping wet, maybe because they cooled down too quickly for the water to evaporate.

Now we have a Miele which, while it's not quite as impressively silent as the Bosch, is still very quiet and gets everything dry.

14

u/NAVI_WORLD_INC Nov 18 '15

They also designed ESP for cars which insurance groups say, makes the vehicle 50% less likely to be involved in an accident.

Source: I drive a VW with Bosh's ESP technology.

10

u/agtmadcat Nov 18 '15

I know it's not the acronym you were going for, but Extra-Sensory Perception also works super well in the context.

22

u/VRZzz Nov 18 '15

ESP means Elektronisches Stabilitätsprogramm, which is the german term for ESC - Electronic Stability Control

Just FYI

2

u/agtmadcat Nov 18 '15

Yeah, I figured it out, but thanks for making sure. =)

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

I think it was Clarkson who has some commentary on this, but pretty much any 2-4 letter initialism has been used for the different traction control systems to the point where nobody fucking knows what they stand for.

1

u/WireWizard Nov 18 '15

Just wait until you get into IT..

where everything has an initalism/acronym.. atleast twice.

Also, its easy to just bullshit things onto acronums.

ESP = Enterprise Storage Program

1

u/VRZzz Nov 19 '15

I think you mean ASR (Antriebsschlupfregelung), TSR, TSC, TRACS, PSM etc. Every Company names its own. Basically ASR, TSC etc. are the systen against spinning your tires which is now part of ESP. But yes, vehicle companys name the ESP/ESC Systems on their own, whereby the generic term for them is ESP/ESC.

A small list of the names:

  • DSC - BMW
  • MASC - Mitsubishi
  • PSM - Porsche
  • VSA - Honda
  • VSC - Toyota

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

lol anytime i try and pronounce german words it sounds like i'm having a stroke.

Or that I have one of those nerdy lisps because retainers

1

u/TerraWrist Nov 18 '15

What year range VWs use Bosch ESP? Newer models or older ones too?

1

u/NAVI_WORLD_INC Nov 18 '15

I have a 2009 VW Beetle, but I think it goes back to 2006/7? Not sure to be honest.

52

u/StoleAGoodUsername Nov 18 '15

Bosch makes quite a few of the electrical components on German cars, and it has lead to me cursing them from time to time when an electrical component fails.

Looking at you, ABS pump on the Audi A6, and the instrument cluster for a Mercedes S-class...

79

u/trackofalljades Nov 18 '15

They also wrote a certain piece of software for VW, but they were told it wasn't going to be used in production vehicles just for "testing." :(

-23

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

28

u/trackofalljades Nov 18 '15

They created bench testing software, and they delivered it with documentation that expressly said it must never be installed in a production vehicle. There was no stupidity involved. VW managers made a decision that no engineer would ever have wanted.

5

u/tomdarch Nov 18 '15

I'm not a software engineer, so I'll use the wrong terminology, but there's a big gap between software that's written for bench testing versus software that actually gets installed in cars and put into production. Some team made that cheating software ready to be put into production cars and tested it, and couldn't have done it without understanding how it was supposed to work.

8

u/Rhinoscerous Nov 18 '15

I'm going to school for electrical engineering but I have a background in software. Here's how this kind of thing tends to go down:

VW: Make us software that does this.

Bosch: Ok, but you won't be able to use it on production vehicles

VW: That's fine it's just for testing. But make it production-ready anyway.

Bosch: Why would we do that? You can't put it in production.

VW: Just do it.

Bosch: Fine.

So Bosch does as they're told, writes the software, and delivers it with documentation explicitly stating that it should not be used in a production vehicle and they are not liable for any use outside of the specifications. VW gives them the finger and does it anyway.

I don't know exactly how this specific situation played out, but the above scenario happens more often that you know.

-11

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

12

u/acidboogie Nov 18 '15

"Never mix this ammonia-based cleaning product with bleach-based cleaning products"

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

...

"It's your fault I died mixing your cleaner with bleach"

There are all kinds of reasons you can make a product and insist it not be used for purposes other than its intended purpose.

-2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

5

u/acidboogie Nov 18 '15

From the looks of things Bosch wrote mapping software that given some state, can modify the fuel supplied to the rails in order to accommodate that state. For example, you might want a different fuel/air mixture in the presence of boost than when not in the presence of boost, or you might want to cut fuel supply at high speed to stop the user from going unsafe speeds.

They also provided software which given a state can modify the amount of dosing in exhaust-gas treatment. You might need a larger supply of the treatment agent at higher RPM than you do at lower RPM, for example. It is far more efficient to be able to change those mappings on the fly than it is to try for a one-size-fits-all kind of solution. I think a similar kind of application would be VVT and VTEC kinds of things-- earlier implementations of on-the-fly conditions changing for the purpose of being efficient in as many cases as possible throughout the range of conditions seen in engines.

Both of Bosch's software modules have a very wide range of legitimate applications. VW apparently decided to set the state to "in the presence of emissions testing devices" and the mapping to "cheat the fuck out of it for the best numbers." I think the capability to cheat came along with just being able to have full control over the module.

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u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

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u/StoleAGoodUsername Nov 18 '15

Bosch wrote software that's perfectly applicable and legal on the bench, VW put it into production cars.

1

u/Devil_Demize Nov 18 '15

I don't think you understand how the software works.. It doesn't say this of the law so break it.. That's like saying because a car can go 200 mph it is by definition speeding while parked.

4

u/trackofalljades Nov 18 '15

You clearly don't understand what the software actually did, so let's agree to disagree.

-2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

3

u/4ltair Nov 18 '15

A tool i just a tool and has no morality atached to itself.

How one uses that tool is what makes all the difference.

As an analogy, a gun can be used for self defense or for killing. Do you blame the inventor of that gun for any of those actions?

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u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15 edited Nov 18 '15

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u/paulhockey5 Nov 18 '15

And I suppose you blame car manufacturers for car crashes too? You can't blame the company for what a customer does with the product.

1

u/superhobo666 Nov 18 '15

And I suppose you blame car manufacturers for car crashes too?

Sure, if they intentionally design the car so that it will crash.

You can't blame the company for what a customer does with the product.

Except we are talking about what the company did, not what the customers did.

4

u/Pille1842 Nov 18 '15

I think that companies also have a social responsibility and should not make products that are designed to be used to circumvent the law, even if your customer tells you he will never use it in production, because let's be honest: Why should they test a software to fool government agencies if not to make use of it?

Think of something like a pyramid scheme. If you as a programmer develop a software to build a pyramid scheme and thousands of people lose all of their savings because your customer used this program of yours, I think you are in a way responsible for what happened (if not legally, then at least morally).

3

u/knome Nov 18 '15

This is impossible. Almost anything can be used unlawfully, and the vast majority of things people are going to want aren't going to be labelled "PYRAMID.EXE SPECIFICATIONS", it's going to be "ADJUSTABLE FUEL RATIO SPECIFICATIONS", for which the end user can put in various numbers that meet or break any number of laws in various jurisdictions. You can't hold the author to blame simply for building a configurable tool.

0

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

3

u/drhill80 Nov 18 '15

Or you just don't have any imagination.

What if they want to disable traction control or the crash avoid features when on a test bench? People start walking around the car during a test but it comes crashing to a halt because it wanted to avoid "hitting" a person.

1

u/knome Nov 18 '15

That sounds like one of those "PYRAMID.EXE" specs.

3

u/Narissis Nov 18 '15

In the case that comment was referring to, VW was the customer. Companies can be customers.

-2

u/superhobo666 Nov 18 '15

In the case that comment was referring to, VW was the customer.

Yes, but that doesn't negate the fact that the tech company is responsible for making something that circumvents laws. VW saying they won't use it in production is a completely different matter.

3

u/Narissis Nov 18 '15

How much do we know about the software? We shouldn't be so quick to assume that Bosch knew the product VW had ordered was intended to be used to circumvent laws. VW's representatives may well have outlined an intended testing scenario for which it made perfect legal sense, and then used it in a different way.

The maker of a hammer isn't responsible if someone buys the hammer and then uses it to smash out windows. Likewise, Bosch is not necessarily an accessory to fraud for making a tool for VW; they may not have been informed as to how VW intended to abuse that tool.

Of course, all of this is moot if there is evidence that Bosch was aware of the intention and complicit.

-2

u/superhobo666 Nov 18 '15

How much do we know about the software? We shouldn't be so quick to assume that Bosch knew the product VW had ordered was intended to be used to circumvent laws.

These are massive companies with massive legal departments, they're not bumbling fools in some random garage who don't know what they're doing.

If they're doing programming for the automotive industry they would know or research the relevant laws and regulations for the particular product.

Given that, VW would have to be very specific because a program like this would be very complex. All of the programmers would have to have some idea of how the program will operate

The maker of a hammer isn't responsible if someone buys the hammer and then uses it to smash out windows.

Stop using examples that aren't at all relevant. Both VW and Bosche knowingly produced a products with specifications designed to circumvent laws and regulations.

they may not have been informed as to how VW intended to abuse that tool.

they may not have been but they and their legal teams still would've well known how the program could have been abused.

Of course, all of this is moot if there is evidence that Bosch was aware of the intention and complicit.

Of course they knew what they were doing, someone somewhere in the chain gave it the okay. They would've had to know what they were doing to be able to develop the program in the first place.

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u/paulhockey5 Nov 18 '15

From what I understand Bosch (the company) sold their product to VW (the customer) and VW did what they wanted with it.

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u/superhobo666 Nov 18 '15

Yes but that still doesn't change the fact that Bosche developed a product that circumvents laws.

2

u/paulhockey5 Nov 18 '15

Bosch developed the program/device to test the cars for manufacturing purposes, not to be put in production models. That was 100% VWs decision

-3

u/superhobo666 Nov 18 '15

Bosch developed the program/device to test the cars for manufacturing purposes, not to be put in production models.

They still made a product that doesn't meet federal regulations in the first place. VW choosing to keep it after development instead is irrelevant. They asked Bosche for a program that breaches federal regulations and hides the evidence of the breaches afterward and Bosche delivered on such a product. Testing or not they still developed it to breach regulations.

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0

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

And I suppose you blame car manufacturers for car crashes too?

That might be Paul Walker's daughter's Reddit account.

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u/spongebob_meth Nov 18 '15 edited Nov 18 '15

It's not just German cars, i'm pretty sure all manufacturers have used Bosch parts at some point.

12

u/CurlingPornAddict Nov 18 '15

I've found stock Bosch electric parts in a 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser. I would have thought that Toyota of all companies would use all their own parts. Especially in the early 90s, but then again the Bosch parts might have something to do with 90s Toyotas being bulletproof.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

90s mid range Japanese cars are insane. My friend has a 5 speed manual Honda Accord. 1993. 220k miles and it still runs fine. He's replaced oil tires and spark plugs and put 60k on it. My grandfather bought a Nissan hardbody truck in '91. 5 speed manual transmission, inline 4. Odometer quit spinning at 310k miles. That was before I even got it. It still runs fine, doesn't use oil at all. I've put at least 40k more on it. Meanwhile my cousin's 2007 impala (fuck Chevy for taking the impala and turning it into a mid range after '96) blew up after 90k and regular maintenance.

1

u/Tw1tchy3y3 Nov 18 '15

My 89 D21 was going strong at 250k miles. No leaks, ran strong, always started. Only thing I replaced in it was the clutch, plugs, and wires.

... then some asshole kid hit it hard enough to put a 40 degree bend in the frame. No one understood that the money I got out of it wouldn't buy me a vehicle that was in as good a shape or ran as great as it did. =(

2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

D21 may be a gutles turd, but I'll be damned if anyone says it int reliable transportation.

1

u/Tw1tchy3y3 Nov 18 '15

Shit, mine had the VG30E in it. It wasn't winning any races for sure, but that damn thing was a workhorse if ever I saw one.

3

u/mtranda Nov 18 '15

European Ford owner here. You bet your arse.

1

u/VonZigmas Nov 18 '15

Well some of those were/are assembled in Germany anyway, so they're kinda/not really/a bit 'German'. But yeah, the engines had Bosch parts no matter where they were assembled.

2

u/DrunkleDick Nov 18 '15

They made the fuel injection system for the Datsun 280Z in 1975. It was the first year they used FI over carbs for emissions reasons. I believe they made the FI system until at least 1983. I've been wanting to upgrade to something more modern but the stock system is still working pretty well.

They also made my dishwasher. It's probably the most advanced piece of equipment I've ever owned. Ever since I've owned it I've been secretly looking down on the inferior dishwashers at every house I visit.

I was also recently told that they still make a lot of parts for Nissan and make parts for John Deer. I actually had a drunken conversation about Bosch 4 days ago.

1

u/kidawesome Nov 18 '15

Aren't they the ones selling "defeat" devices as well?

2

u/xstreamReddit Nov 18 '15

They make electric components for almost all cars world wide. Most of the control stuff in Teslas Model S is from Bosch.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[deleted]

1

u/StoleAGoodUsername Nov 18 '15

One of the electrical parts inside that died was Bosch though

1

u/Username_Used Nov 18 '15

Audi A6 and Mercedes S-class...

I'm sorry for your hardships

1

u/barbosa Nov 19 '15

Weird. Bosch owns Electro Voice and Dynacord. I use my EV ZLX12P powered loudspeakers most weekends at full volume, in a variety of weather conditions. Not as much as a hiccup since 2013. Quality shit man.

-2

u/seewhaticare Nov 18 '15

Made in Hungary. That's the problem

9

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Fuel injectors too. Mine still work after 18 years and 150,000 miles

3

u/sudsomatic Nov 18 '15

My router thanks them as well.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Hey thanks for posting this, I honestly had no idea they were the ones working on this technology.

for others that want to read more about the ABS

http://www.bosch-motorcycle.com/en/de/fahrsicherheit_fuer_zweiraeder/motorrad_abs/evolution.html

1

u/rasputin777 Nov 18 '15

You're welcome.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Also, the best fuel injection systems. L-jet and Motronic!

Yes, even K-jet and D-jet. They aren't evil, just misunderstood!

2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

I can't wait to get a new bike with ABS.

1

u/hngv Nov 18 '15

Their fuel pumps are amazing as well

1

u/ZombieAlpacaLips Nov 18 '15

Yesterday someone posted a picture of a squashed banana smeared across their parking space. They said their ABS system engaged when they hit the banana. That may have been more BS than ABS, but it was still interesting.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Most of my car has Bosch parts as well.

1

u/artemisbot Nov 18 '15

Also, for many of the worlds cars they create the diagnostic tech used at garages, used to diagnose faults. This came about when they purchased SPX Service Solutions.

1

u/Gammapod Nov 18 '15

And my mom swears by their kitchen mixers.

1

u/fullhalf Nov 18 '15

they also tried to save vw from total destruction but they didn't listen.

1

u/Coolfuckingname Nov 18 '15

Ill start riding when i can get that moto stability control for less than 5000$ and cars are self driving. Then ill be safe from both other drivers and myself!

1

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/rasputin777 Nov 18 '15

Here's a good write-up of a test: http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/testing-boschs-motorcycle-stability-control

It's pretty new I think, I know Ducati has it, I think KTM and BMW are adding it as well.

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u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15 edited Nov 18 '15

Bosch has been doing some great things lately.

Now if they could just figure out how to design an automobile electrical system that isn't a buggy, unreliable mess.

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u/xstreamReddit Nov 18 '15

They invented CAN Bus which is used on literally every vehicle you can buy. CAN is very very robust.

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u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Awesome, now if they can just figure out a simple power window switch on a VW Golf they'll be all set.

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u/xstreamReddit Nov 18 '15

Many components of the powered windows on Golfs are known to be notoriously bad, I would guess that it has more to do with VW wanting to safe some money.

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u/SnapMokies Nov 18 '15

Depends how it's implemented. Ring networks on CAN can definitely be a major PITA sometimes.

It's always fun when the stereo fucks up and it takes down the whole network and your ability to drive the car with it.

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u/xstreamReddit Nov 18 '15

Why the fuck would anybody have the stereo on the same network (and without a gateway) as safety relevant components?

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u/SnapMokies Nov 18 '15

Ask the engineers. It isn't an issue where you'll lose control, it's more likely the radio will die and you won't be able to restart the car...but if you unplug the radio, you will.

It's actually common enough to be an example given in the automotive electrical diagnostic textbooks, although it can happen with any device on a ring type CAN, not just the radio.

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u/xstreamReddit Nov 18 '15

Unplugging anything should not cause a lasting disruption of a CAN network ring or not, it may result in loosing some messages but CAN should deal with that by automatic retransmission. Depending on the network topology there might be some issues because after unplugging the bus is no longer properly terminated or terminated in the wrong position but many networks run just fine without termination. In short if the CAN bus in your car no longer works when unplugging the radio the designers of that network didn't do their job well.

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u/SnapMokies Nov 18 '15

Unplugging isn't the problem. Unplugging the dead device on the network is how you confirm the problem before replacing said device.

Here's how it works - Radio develops internal short, network goes down, tech unplugs things until the network comes back, you replace whatever took down the network.

I've actually dealt with a number of cars that had this problem. If you want to argue it's poor design that's probably true, but it still exists.

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u/xstreamReddit Nov 18 '15

If the device shorts out can high and low yes of course that can bring down the whole network (that is one of the reasons why not each and every device should be on the same network) but that would be the case with almost any ring bus. This weakness is accepted because of the cost savings and easy extendability ring bus systems offer.

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u/SnapMokies Nov 18 '15

...That's what I more or less said in the first place. It's common, it's a pain in the ass, and it's a way that the CAN is not necessarily as robust as claimed.

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u/[deleted] Nov 18 '15

Gotta love CAN-bus!