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Journal Article

Validating Speed Data from Cummins Engine Sudden Deceleration Data Reports

2009-04-20
2009-01-0876
Electronic Control Modules (ECM) on Heavy Duty truck engines have the ability to control or monitor important engine and vehicle parameters. Examples of these parameters are fuel consumption, cruise control operation and oil pressure. Under certain conditions, many can also record parameters that are useful in accident reconstruction. Cummins engines are commonly found on highway tractors on the road today. In a heavy vehicle equipped with a Cummins engine, a hard brake application or a collision with an object can create a Sudden Deceleration Data (SDD) Report on the ECM. Since this data reports second-by-second speed information, it can be very useful in the analysis of an accident. Establishing the reliability of this information is important, if it is to be used by an accident investigator. This paper explores the data recorded on a Cummins engine ECM created during a series of acceleration, cruising, and braking tests.
Technical Paper

The Reliability of Snapshot Data from Caterpillar Engines for Accident Investigation and Analysis

2008-10-07
2008-01-2708
The Electronic Control Modules (ECM) installed on heavy truck engines record data during normal operation. While their primary purpose is to control the mechanical and electrical systems on the engine, they monitor other vehicle systems as well. Stored data from the ECM can be downloaded into reports that are useful for tracking fleet performance, scheduling maintenance or troubleshooting engine problems. Many of the current production heavy trucks also record event information that may be useful when analyzing or reconstructing accidents. It is not uncommon for a vehicle involved in a frontal accident to experience sudden decelerations and/or sustain damage to the coolant system or rupture the oil pan. Sustained data outside normal operating parameters from sensors on the engine will typically trigger the ECM to generate a fault code. On a Caterpillar ECM, a short event record called a Diagnostic Snapshot may also be generated with a fault code.
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