This seems like a bad bit of design to me, but what do I know? Fatal Tesla Model S crash unlikely to involve Autopilot, according to NTSB | Ars Technica
When the NTSB started looking at this crash, they blamed autopilot. That doesn't seem to have been a factor. Other design problems...
A crash, a battery damaged, power cut. Once the power is cut, the doors do not open as per usual.
Tesla uses IP-based electronic door locks that fail if the car loses power (as it would have in this crash). In an emergency that cuts power to the car, the rear doors of a Model S can only be opened using a plastic tab found in the rear footwell.
Because of course the door locks are primarily electronic with manual release as an afterthought. What could go wrong?
Two people died in the fire.
Yeesh! Talk about a fail-dangerous design!
ReplyDeleteDoor locks are a classic example of where you need to mind the failure mode - and whether, in the event of trouble, the inmates should be able to escape. (The considerations are obviously different for an office building vs. a maximum-security prison.)
Almost 20 years ago, a friend told me his Mini Cooper trapped him inside and he couldn't unlock it and get out. Since he was a captive audience, he took it to the dealer to get let out of his car.
ReplyDeleteNote this wasn't an electric car with a battery disconnect, it was fairly expensive, little econobox from BMW with an IC engine. It just relied too much on stupid, mindlessly designed software.