In the previous blog entry we took a look at iVe’s value in accident reconstruction and the difference between EDR data and data stored in other vehicle systems. Data is only valuable if it can be relied upon to be accurate. As such, it is a fair question to ask whether or not the data acquired by iVe has been tested and validated.
As a matter of fact, it has! A newly published technical paper addresses the accuracy of the speed data reported in two common systems supported by iVe – MyFord/MyFord Touch (Sync Generation 2) and Sync3 (Sync Generation 3) systems.
The full paper, published by SAE International, can be found at:
https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2018-01-1442/
Why Is This Important?
Scientific findings and discoveries can have far-reaching implications for individuals and society, including the reliance upon the material by professionals in our legal system. This is one reason for making sure such scientific material undergoes a process of quality control known as peer review before it is published. Peer review involves subjecting the author’s scholarly work, research, and conclusions to the scrutiny of other experts in the same field to check its validity and evaluate its suitability for publication.
Why Is an SAE Technical Paper Significant?
In the automotive industry, SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers) is generally considered the highest level of peer review. The testing process, acquired data, and resulting conclusions are subjected to a double-blind peer review by several engineering experts. Those experts had the ability to accept the paper for publication, insist upon changes, or even reject it.
Summary of Testing and Findings
The bottom line to note is that the data acquired from the Ford SYNC modules was tested under normal driving, hard acceleration, hard deceleration, and directional changes, and the data was found to be accurate for all tests. The following sample chart shows the accuracy of Ford SYNC generation 3 data (which includes both GPS-derived speeds and actual wheel speeds), acquired by iVe, as compared with data recorded by the VBOX Sport. This test involved hard acceleration and hard deceleration in both forward and reverse.
Strengthening the Case for Applied Use
The testing and validation of Ford SYNC data through SAE further strengthens the case for using and trusting vehicle system data in investigations. Though the types of data recorded in a given vehicle depends on the OEM and the type of system installed, it is worthwhile during the course of an investigation to identify what vehicle data may be obtainable by iVe. To that end, in the weeks ahead Berla will post additional blogs on how to definitively identify vehicles, the systems installed in them, and the data types that may be present.
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