Similar But Not The Same, This Is The Function Of The Black Box In The Car

JAKARTA - The black box of the Swirijaya Air SJ-182 aircraft that was recently discovered by the Indonesian Navy's divers team is also needed in the automotive world. Even the newest cars today have black box features.

For example, in the United States, a device such as a black box is a must-have on newer cars. There, the black box in the car is known as the Event Data Recorder (EDR).

The use of EDR in new cars is not actually bound by regulations, but rather the manufacturer's initiative at the appeal of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The shape of the black box in the car is different from the one on the plane, which is only a mini-sized computer chip. The EDR was originally part of the air bag control module to ensure air bags work.

But over time, black boxes in cars were made smarter to record events that were more complex than air bags.

According to NHTSA regulations passed in 2012, the EDR includes 15 specific data records, including speed, steering, braking, acceleration, use of seat belts, and in the event of an accident, impact strength and airbags.

Most EDRs are programmed to record data in a continuous loop, writing information over and over again until the vehicle crashes. When an accident occurs, the device automatically stores up to five seconds of data from before, during, and after the incident.

Unfortunately, this feature is known not to be available on cars in Indonesia.

According to Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM) Head Product Improvement Bambang Supriyadi, as quoted by CNN Indonesia, he said that mass production does not exist because official equipment like that from the factory does not exist because the company is more referring to regulations.

However, according to Bambang, actually in Indonesia there is a device that has the same capabilities as a black box, namely the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). This tool can record data such as speed, engine speed, braking, and others. It's just that this data is recorded real-time and has no recording history for a certain period.

"If it's a special (like EDR) that's not there, but yes, if the ECU stores data too. It's a little different (the role of the engine ECU from the EDR), because the EDR's function is to record, it can be retrieved, in this period No, it's just real-time, "said Bambang.

Bambang also pointed out that the ECU data had been taken for the purpose of investigating an accident experienced by Fatal Dul, son of musician Ahmad Dhani, in 2013 which involved the Daihatsu Gran Max car and the case of the 'Xenia Maut' accident in 2012 driven by Afriyani.

"For example, there is an accident, we can see how fast it is, it can, but yes at the last moment because it is not a recording. There is no history," he was quoted as saying by CNN Indonesia.