A couple on months ago I ran across several references to an alleged problem with embedded systems in fire trucks. The story was that a diagnostic computer would fail when the date rolled over and this failure would take out the ignition system, making the trucks inoperable.

Does anyone know if this story is true? If so, do you know where I can get further information, such as the manufacturer and the production dates of the affected vehicles.

I have the feeling that this story is in the same category as the one about the bank which will have to be demolished to replace a chip embedded in the door to their vault - i.e. widely reported as true, even though it was first published as an example of what could happen, not something which has happened. Still, I'd like to know for sure.

-- Ed Perrault (EdPerrault@Compuserve.com), August 07, 1998

Answers

I work as an engineer with the City of Albuquerque.

The public works director stated a couple of months ago (I heard this directly from him) that the City's fire trucks would not work after the turn of the century.

-- Ruth Anna Minch (rminch@cabq.gov), August 07, 1998.