Crashes
So I read that Microsoft is now the supplier to Formula 1 for engine control units.
Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea? There’s two possibilities here:
* they put Windows in the thing, it crashes, and someone dies
* they DON’T put Windows on the thing, which means that they’re admitting Windows isn’t good enough to run your car.
July 6th, 2006 at 6:36 am
Thats of course if you’re of the opinion that it’ll crash.
If they weren’t going to put them in, then they never would have announced a partnership would they?
July 6th, 2006 at 6:40 am
I don’t understand what you’re saying.
By putting “Windows on the thing”, I meant the ECU they would be suppling, not the formula 1 car.
I’ve worked around ECUs for a long time now and I can attest that it is something that is very difficult to get right.
July 6th, 2006 at 8:45 am
aaah, I get it. But isn’t Windows a little overkill for an ECU? I wouldn’t think they have XP running on it.
So not putting Windows on it doesn’t maean its not good enough for your car, just that it doesn’t suit the requirements.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:17 am
The news item was very misleading. It just said M$ was providing the ECU’s. Now Microsoft _has_ released hardware that shipped with Linux in the past (some versions of their wireless routers), as well as a variety of other embedded operating systems.
Additionally, given these are embedded systems, it comes down to WinCE, Linux, and a few other niche OSs. Mainstream Windows won’t enter into it, with the exception of Microsoft tools to talk to the ECUs.
July 7th, 2006 at 5:59 am
Certainly, but I would think they would HAVE to provide their own software for the ECUs. And I would seriously doubt they are going to directly make the hardware. They seem to just not do that. More than likely, they’ll buy from an existing manufacturer (Bosch and Motorola come to mind) and slap a MS logo on the front.
If they install a *nix on it, that would be rather funny in my opinion.