BMW, Mercedes Integrating Intel Atom Into Cars

[Dave_69]

@radiowars - your car's fuel injection is controlled by a computer, as well as your anti-lock brakes, your entire electrical system, etc.

Oh crap, now BMW drivers will be EVEN MORE clueless about others on the road than they were before... Go Mercedes!

 

[back_by_demand]

What's the differance between a BMW and a porcupine?

A porcupine has the pricks on the outside.

 

[Dave_69]

LOL! So true. BMW = I have money, but have no clue.

 

[ssalim]

Now we need an energy shield to protect us and the car from crashes.

 

[precariousgray]

All praise be unto the Spectacle. It awakens you in morning, guides you through the day -- now, by your side en route to and from work -- keeps you safe in the evening, and tucks you in at night.

 

[bob_white]

My 1993 Nissan Sentra + My Pantium 2 Laptop + Duct tape = A $30,000 car from the future

 

[Gian124]

There was a time where car-jacking was a prevalent threat...

Now we'll be focusing on car-hacking security systems.

 

[kingnoobe]

LMAO.. With radios, even tv's.. I get.. I do.. But laptops really... Isn't the point of a laptop portability? So why on earth would you want to freaking build one into your car!.. If you're gonna put a computer into a car for the love of god do it right, and at least get a kick ass *what would be a desktop* and put in it. Seriously cars have AC or at the very least can have good airflow =).

There are ways to make cars able to handle these things.. They do it with amps, subs etc.. All the damn time. And for what you pay for having BMW do this you could get a custom job for cheaper, and be better off.

 

[flinxsl]

the Atom will not likely replace the CPU in charge of engine control, but work along side it. imagine getting a BSOD while you are driving on the freeway! lol. Intel's procs are not designed to operate at the temperature corners under the car's hood.

 

[mysticalzero]

[citation][nom]flinxsl[/nom]the Atom will not likely replace the CPU in charge of engine control, but work along side it. imagine getting a BSOD while you are driving on the freeway![/citation]
I doubt those cars will be running on Windows though.

 

[g00ey]

I once heard the funny expression:

"If satellites were running Windows, no-noe would walk safe on the surface of the earth"

In general, systems such as fuel-injection system require a real-time operating system which Windows is not. I think BMW uses Bosch Motronic for fuel injection. The status and diagnostic information is probably delivered through a CCAM bus which is installed as a loop around the car.

Even control information such as control of turning signals, reverse light is transmitted via this bus.

But these systems work independently of any computer system....