Just when everyone thought that things are gaining a sort of credibility for the brand Toyota and sales are returning to the beleaguered company, we find that NASA has been asked to investigate sudden acceleration problems in Toyota cars. The US Regulatory authority has requested NASA to crack the puzzle behind sudden acceleration in Toyota cars.
While not much is known as of now, it appears that the US Regulators are leaving nothing to chance. They want to be sure that the cars are indeed free of any potential flaws that could endanger the safety of occupants and people on the road. It appears that the immediate reason to look for assistance from NASA and National Association of Sciences could be to counter Toyota’s claims that the computer and electronic systems of the cars are working fine. It may sound absurd, but Toyota has blamed sudden acceleration on cosmic rays.
Toyota has been maintaining a stand that its cars have no problems. All controls work fine. And there are no problems at all with the computer software that was originally thought to be the source of all unintended acceleration issues. While analysts will dispute Toyota’s claims and many feel that Toyota is unable to fix the problem in software and is therefore trying to divert attention from its own failures.
Many believe that Toyota’s claims are diversionary and inline with their company’s attempts to scuttle investigations, lawsuits and costs of fixing the recalled cars. The Law, however, needs to allow a chance to Toyota to explain the problem. Hence, the regulatory body decided to seek the help of best technical specialists to try and figure out the problem in the car.
So, on one had we have Toyota that will continue to claim that all is well with its cars and on the other we have the US Regulators who have now involved some of the most intelligent people to try and figure out the issue and bring Toyota to the table.
All this makes the sudden acceleration issue a never ending saga with twists and turns. To the sundry people like me, this investigation is going to be the one that will have many new points being discussed over next few months. And the investigation is not going to be as simple as someone would have thought.
Entire investigation is going to be focused on technical details and technical factors. At stake is the safety of Toyota owners and the people who walk or travel on the road. Also on stake is a corporate brand whose focus will be on trying to defend it over the unprecedented acceleration problems.
Only time will tell if it were the cosmic rays that interfered with the car’s acceleration system or if it was a software problem that caused all the issues. For the technically-challenged folks like me, we can only hope that with NASA coming over to investigate the problem, we can be rest assured that the problem description and the potential solution may not elude us for long.
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The question we get asked time after time is “what is the best motorcycle communication systems for bikers?” We always follow this up immediately with another question - “what exactly are you looking for?”
This is because the options are many; from a single rider who just wants to be able to answer his phone whilst riding and perhaps use a Sat Nav, to a group of riders who want to be able to keep in touch with each other whilst on a ride-out.
Throw in there the fact that some riders may want to listen to music and some want all of this, without any wires, and you start to appreciate how complex bike communications can be. There is, therefore, no quick answer to this question. One of the problems we are very much aware of is that it is easy to overload the customer with too much information which can be counter-productive.
Let’s start with some basics. Rider and Pillion would like to be able to communicate with each other on a basic level, such as “Can we stop, I need the loo”. There are plenty of reasonably priced systems available which will do just this, such as the Albrecht Basic Rider to Pillion Intercom which is available with either full-face or open-face headsets. This is a battery operated wired intercom system. However, if you are likely to be travelling at high speed and have to contend with wind noise, this will not be up to the job.
The Starcom Advance System is not only an intercom but a whole entertainment system. Rider and pillion can listen to music, which will mute when they speak to each other. Communication is clear, even at high speeds. The unit, which is the size of a credit card, is wired to the bike’s battery, so no need to worry about batteries running out. Headsets are provided for either full or open face helmets. The digital system allows both rider and pillion to listen to their own music. Mobile phones and GPS devices can be connected either by cable or Bluetooth.
Perhaps you want all of this but do not want any cables coming from your helmet or attaching you to your bike. Bluetooth may then be the option you are looking for. There are numerous Bluetooth devices available now which in the main comprise of a small unit which attaches to the outside of your helmet with either a clip or sticky pad.
Inside the helmet you typically have an earpiece and either a boom mike or a stick on mike for full-face helmets. Interphone is a well-established Bluetooth intercom system which enables you both to connect to another Interphone, i.e. your pillion or another rider, and also to a mobile phone/GPS/MP3 player. It was initially unique in that it allowed the user to connect to more than one other Bluetooth device.
Bluetooth intercoms have now moved on to provide stereo sound and Interphone have brought out their new F4 system which incorporates this feature. Midland also do a range of Bluetooth Intercoms in their BT range and Starcom have their BTGO. The only disadvantage of Bluetooth is the range. For rider to pillion it is ideal, but if you want to use it for rider to rider, you must bear in mind that the range is going to be around 200m, which is fine if you are intending to stay close together.
However, if you are looking for motorcycle communication between a group of riders who may not stay this close together, you perhaps should think about using radios. Again, the options are many; you can each buy a radio, headset and PTT (press to talk) cable and as long as you are all on the same wavelength (usually PMR446), you will be able to communicate with each other.
The range varies depending upon the radio you have (typically the more you can afford to spend the better it will be) but you should usually be able to count on a range of between ? mile to 2 miles, depending upon conditions. Midland do a great bike-to-bike kit which contains everything one rider needs, if there are 2 of you, you need 2 and if there are 10, you need 10. Nice and simple and affordable.
If you are also looking for other features, such as ability to use mobile phone and listen to music, then you will need to go back to a system such as Starcom. With the Starcom unit wired onto your bike, you will have these features available. You can then add a radio kit to this unit and away you go.
So, to go back to where we started from, you can see that the solution will differ depending upon the requirements. This is very much an area in which you get what you pay for, we get lots of customers telling us about the unit they bought for £20 and it worked fine when they were both stood by their bike testing it but once on the road, they couldn’t hear each other.
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For the very best in Biker Intercom and Motorcycle Communication Systems he recommends The Touring Biker.
Sports cars have an appeal that is based on looks and performance. They are fun to drive and give you a feeling of freedom. A sports car is a major investment and to keep it looking new you have to make sure that it is washed regularly. A custom car cover will protect your pride and joy when not in use.
People have been attracted to and fascinated with sports cars since they were first designed. Different people like sports cars for different reasons, including the sleek sexy design or the powerful engines under the hood. Some people like the sound of the high powered engines and the distinctive noises they have. Even people who say they would never own one will stop and turn to look at one of these sporty powerful machines when they pass by.
The automobile got off to a sluggish start, but quickly became a very useful mode of transportation. The first cars were built for functionality and were used to transport people and heavy loads. As the technology improved there were people who started experimenting with vehicle engines to make them go faster and be more powerful.
Eventually the car turned into a vehicle that could be powerful and beautiful to look at. This started our obsession with racing cars and sports cars. With advancements in technology happening quickly, a small number of builders, designers and drivers started to push the automobile to its limits on race tracks.
This led to big powerful engines and our need to go faster and faster also led to the age of the modern sports car. This also led to vehicles being designed with aerodynamics in mind and were made out of stronger materials. After WWII a new breed of sports car was emerging. Instead of the high priced sports cars of the past that only the wealthy could afford, there were now sports cars for the average person.
The sports car became affordable and also had additional comforts and functionality added for everyday drivers. This led to automakers into designing powerful cars that were also appealing to the eye. The modern sports car is made with beauty, performance and safety in mind.
Today you will find a variety of sports cars to choose from. When buying a sports car many drivers use the brand name and its reputation to guide their decision, such as Lotus, Ferrari or Porsche. Nowadays, you will hear the terms, exotic car and sports used to describe sports cars. The difference between the two is that an exotic sports car has a limited production number which is usually less than 8,000, such as a Lamborghini. On the other hand, a sports car is mass produced and a manufacturer may produce hundreds of thousands of the car model.
To protect your vehicle from the elements and prying eyes it is recommended that you use a car cover to protect it when not in use. This will keep your pride and joy looking sharp for years to come.?
Jack Labens works for Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers, truck covers, motorcycle covers, and many other vehicle covers and accessories. Empire Covers can be found online at: EmpireCovers.com .
