No fuel injection or electronic ignition? I'm sure there's an ECU somewhere in the vehicle.

cameron_b 17 hours ago | parent | next [-]

This is the sentiment completely.

My 34-year old base spec Chevrolet has digital controls for timing advance, fuel trim, and integrated Engine and Transmission Control Units. But my dash has some analog components ( fuel level is variable voltage instead of PWM ). The mechanics would all say that my truck is very simple, and "old school"

The Lay use of 'analog' is far removed from function. As long as there isn't a screen, it isn't seen to be digital. I studied photography in college and loved shooting film. I have a processing machine that is based on a 6502. When people would talk about non-digital things as analog it would bug me (One is chemical, and one is a computer).

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calvinmorrison 16 hours ago | parent [-]

The last real analog stuff would be either carb'd bikes / cars or mechanical fuel injection, which is the worst of both worlds.

However, those ECUs are more closely related to embedded programming than digital dial outs and SIM Card loaded cars with a internal network canbus these days. Analog / Digital Inputs and outputs as a closed loop controller.

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rjsw 14 hours ago | parent [-]

ECUs talked to each other over a digital bus long before anyone added a connection to the internet.

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potato3732842 14 hours ago | parent [-]

The first 20yr of automotive computers they weren't really talking to each other and when they were it wasn't really bidirectional and it wasn't typically on a bus unless you wanna call a dedicated wire a bus.

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rjsw 11 hours ago | parent [-]

I was working on diagnostics for cars using CAN in 1995.

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potato3732842 10 hours ago | parent [-]

If you were dealing with CAN back then then you of all people know it wasn't the norm at the time.

	▲	kragen 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		That was after the first 20 years of automotive computers, though, wasn't it, if only barely? WP says, "In the early 1970s, the Japanese electronics industry began producing integrated circuits and microcontrollers used for controlling engines.[6] The Ford EEC (Electronic Engine Control) system, which used the Toshiba TLCS-12 microprocessor, entered mass production in 1975.[7]" Reference [6] says, "First half of 1970s: Japan starts developing ICs for automobiles ahead of the U.S.: Development of ICs for automobiles started with analog ICs for in-car entertainment, and was followed by 4-bit microcontrollers and other digital ICs for use with the wipers, electronic locks, and dashboard, and then by microcontrollers with 8-bit and wider bits for engine control." But I don't know any more details. Was Toyota controlling its windshield wipers with a 4004 in 01974? Was Nissan controlling a speedometer with an RCA 1801 in 01973? Anyway, if we date it from 01975, then 01995 would be year #21.

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regularfry 17 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Not features found in the cockpit, unless you are not going to space today.

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jonah 16 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

It's electric.