American Bio Engineers has the ability to retrieve data from a vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (EDR), or “black box”, which may record data during a collision. We utilize the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) System, the Kia/Hyundai EDR retrieval tools and the Tesla EDR retrieval system, which have the ability to retrieve data from a vehicle’s airbag control module (ACM)*. The airbag control module is the “brain” of the airbag deployment system and determines within milliseconds whether or not a collision is severe enough to deploy the airbags. In many modern vehicles, the ACM is also capable of recording data for both deployment and non-deployment collision events. While the type of information available through the download of the ACM varies between vehicles, some common information that can be retrieved includes the following:
- Ignition cycle count at the time of event
- Ignition cycle count at the time of retrieval
- Longitudinal change in velocity (ΔV) vs. time
- Lateral ΔV vs. time
- Vehicle roll rate
- Pre-crash speed up to 5 seconds prior to collision
- Pre-crash brake switch status up to 5 seconds prior to collision
- Pre-crash steering input up to 5 seconds prior to collision
- Pre-crash acceleration pedal/throttle position up to 5 seconds prior to collision
- Occupancy status for front passenger
- Seat belt status (buckled/unbuckled) for front seats
Nearly all major automobile manufacturers (General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc.) are currently able to be downloaded through the Bosch CDR System. For a complete list of supported vehicles, follow the provided link below and click on “Supported Vehicle List” under documents.
https://www.boschdiagnostics.com/cdr/software-downloads
For Hyundai and Kia vehicles, all vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2012 are supported to be downloaded. In some cases, data can also be retrieved from 2010-2012 model year vehicles.
For Tesla vehicles, all models aside from the original Roadster are supported.
American Bio Engineers also utilizes the Toyota Techstream tool to retrieve vehicle event data from supported Toyota and Lexus vehicles beginning in 2013.
Data retrieved from a vehicle after an accident can be a vital tool in the reconstruction of high speed accidents and can help determine the severity of contact in minor collisions. For non-deployment events, the data can be overwritten by the recording of subsequent events, or in the case of several GM vehicles, it may be overwritten after approximately 250 ignition cycles, so it is essential to retrieve the data quickly after a collision.
*In some cases, data may be retrieved from other vehicle modules, such as the powertrain control module (PCM), roll-over sensor (ROS), Active Safety Control Module (ASCM), and pedestrian protection module (PPM).
American Bio Engineers also has the ability to retrieve data from Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorders (HVEDRs). Events associated with an accident, such as hard braking, last stops, or fault codes may trigger recordings by the Electronic Control Module (ECM) in Freightliner, Kenworth, International, Peterbilt, Western Star, Mack, Volvo, and New Flyer vehicles. American Bio Engineers can download data from Detroit Diesel, Mercedes-Benz, Cummins, Caterpillar, Paccar, and Navistar/MaxxForce engines, as well as Bendix and Meritor WABCO safety systems.
American Bio Engineers now performs Infotainment system downloads utilizing the Berla iVe Ecosystem. Infotainment systems provide a combination of information and entertainment options within a vehicle and are typically identified by the presence of a touch screen. Supported vehicles may provide information on devices connected through Bluetooth, USB, or WIFI, as well as speed data, location data, and events such as hard braking/acceleration, traction events, seat belt usage, and many more. Please contact us with any questions regarding supported vehicles, stored information, and data extraction.
