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If the software was open source, it would be modified and tuned to maximize power output, and would belch huge plumes of particulates, CO, and NOx. How do you b

If the software was open source, it would be modified and tuned to maximize power output, and would belch huge plumes of particulates, CO, and NOx. How do you balance openness against the public good of controlling this pollution? These are, perhaps, the primary reasons that engine control software is so complicated these days, on diesels and gas engines.

DanBC 10y ago
Since the software is closed source we don't know if it's cheating emissions testing or not.
- TheRealDunkirk 10y ago
  Touche.
adrianN 10y ago
Make such modifications illegal and require regular checks.
- Arizhel 10y ago
  Do even better than that: have the government do random checks with drones, and if someone's found to be violating, seize their entire farm. Do make sure to include a provision to make sure they weren't non-compliant by accident (equipment failure not caused by illegal modification, or perhaps due to illegal action by manufacturer a la VW). If you make the penalties for non-compliance devastatingly high, then very few people will risk it. Also, companies found to be intentionally non-complaint like VW should simply be seized, not just fined. The executives should be tried criminally and imprisoned, and the rest of the company seized and sold.
Gracana 10y ago
I think high risks and catastrophic consequences would prevent most farmers from hot-rodding their tractors. You buy a tractor of a certain size, which is designed to run the implements that attach to it, and you run it and maintain it on a predictable schedule. If you modify it to make more power... the benefits are questionable, and you risk unpredictable downtime which jeopordizes your ability to cultivate your crops properly. Imagine your employer spent a million dollars on a server that runs everything critical to their operation. You can overclock it easily. Do you?
burfog 10y ago
Pumping "huge plumes of particulates, CO, and NOx" into the soil would actually be good for farming. It fertilizes the soil and kills some of the bugs.

DanBC 10y ago

Since the software is closed source we don't know if it's cheating emissions testing or not.

TheRealDunkirk 10y ago
Touche.

adrianN 10y ago

Make such modifications illegal and require regular checks.

Arizhel 10y ago
Do even better than that: have the government do random checks with drones, and if someone's found to be violating, seize their entire farm. Do make sure to include a provision to make sure they weren't non-compliant by accident (equipment failure not caused by illegal modification, or perhaps due to illegal action by manufacturer a la VW). If you make the penalties for non-compliance devastatingly high, then very few people will risk it. Also, companies found to be intentionally non-complaint like VW should simply be seized, not just fined. The executives should be tried criminally and imprisoned, and the rest of the company seized and sold.

Gracana 10y ago

I think high risks and catastrophic consequences would prevent most farmers from hot-rodding their tractors. You buy a tractor of a certain size, which is designed to run the implements that attach to it, and you run it and maintain it on a predictable schedule. If you modify it to make more power... the benefits are questionable, and you risk unpredictable downtime which jeopordizes your ability to cultivate your crops properly. Imagine your employer spent a million dollars on a server that runs everything critical to their operation. You can overclock it easily. Do you?

burfog 10y ago

Pumping "huge plumes of particulates, CO, and NOx" into the soil would actually be good for farming. It fertilizes the soil and kills some of the bugs.