David Warren, an Australian aviation engineer, revolutionized the aeronautics industry when in 1953 he was asked to design a device that would help clarify the causes of air accidents. This device had to store different parameters of the aircraft moments before the collision to later be recovered and analyzed. This system gradually expanded to other forms of transportation such as trains or ships, but until now it had never been imposed in the automotive industry.
What is EDR?
The EDR (Event Data Recorder) is the new ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), an information storage device the size of a mobile phone, which according to the DGT records up to 15 vehicle parameters when it detects that it has suffered an accident, that is, when the airbags deploy or exert considerable force on the seat belt tensioners.
He is able to collect data before and after the collision occurs allowing them to be recovered later, functioning as a research support of what happened. The EDR analyzes these parameters continuously, it cannot be manipulated or turned off, however, will only work when the vehicle is on.
This continuous information that reaches the device will be overwritten, as long as it does not detect that a crash has occurred. This device will help analyze the causes of accidents being of great help for its reconstruction, thus being able to study the possibilities of preventing it.
What data does it store?
Unlike airplane black boxes, the EDR is not capable of recording audio, images, or personal information, so the samples obtained are anonymous, ensuring that the privacy inside the vehicle is not affected. Among the different data that will be saved are:
- car speed
- Engine revolutions
- Pedal position
- Impact force
- Information about other security systems
- Meteorological conditions
- Date and Time
To access them it will be necessary to connect directly to the EDR interface or to the vehicle electronics through the port OBD, it is not possible to do so via wireless connection, however, the Access to this information will be limited to the authorities.
The European Union, “Vision Zero” and RymeWorldwide
Thanks to the progressive implementation and escalation of these new security systems, the European Union intends to continue working to guarantee a accident free movement. This project is called “Vision Zero”, which was born as a multinational initiative with the objective of reduce road fatalities to 0 and the serious injuries derived from traffic accidents for the year 2050.
From Ryme Worldwide, we maintain a close commitment to road safety, that's why we work to provide vehicle technical inspection stations of the material necessary for ensure the correct functioning of these security systems. To do this, we update our devices in relation to current regulatory changes, thus ensuring the reliability of the readings obtained and optimizing the data collection process.
