The team who uncovered VW's emissions cheating effects...

[rootabaga]

I didn't see a thread on the current woes over at VW regarding their cheating "bypass" for emissions testing on their diesel vehicles, but I was also intrigued that a university was responsible for finding the effects of what VW was doing.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/aut...rs-testing-opened-can-worms-automaker-n432896



Here's an article speaking more to the issue at VW, rather than looking at the West Virginia University's work: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/diesel-recall-likely-only-start-vws-problems-n430896

 

[psionandy]

And they would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those meddling kids.....

And the DRM on the system would have made it illegal for anyone to check what they were doing

Volkswagen, like most auto manufacturers, uses digital rights management in its informatic systems. Under section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, it is a felony to tamper with that DRM, punishable by five years in prison and a $500,000 fine for a first offense. The company uses this legal regime to limit which mechanics can service its cars, ensuring that only "official" mechanics, who are bound by nondisclosure agreements -- and covenants to only buy their parts from VW and not an aftermarket competitor -- can effectively service their cars.

This year, the US Copyright Office held its triennial hearings into possible exceptions to this rule, and one petition asked it to grant an exemption for jailbreaking cars. The car manufacturers intervened to oppose this, but so did the EPA, fearing that drivers would modify their firmware in ways that increased emissions.

http://boingboing.net/2015/09/19/vws-car-drm-let-it-get-away.html

 

[SiempreTuna]

Jeremy Clarkson had an hilarious story when he was discussing the VW scandal a couple of weeks ago.

Apparently an unnamed manufacturer were testing a car that they knew was way too loud to meet the noise regulations so when it came to the big test, just before they drove past the man with the decibel measuring equipment, they turned off the engine and coasted.

Since the story comes from Jeremy Clarkson, it's almost certainly wrong - he's kinda like a one-man Fox News/Daily Mail: basically, if he says it, it's almost certainly wrong