We are definitely in the beginnings of some sort of artificial intelligence revolution. I’m not certain how it’ll all play out, but something is happening, and it’s big, and it has the potential to affect all sorts of parts of our lives. I think that’s why its so important to remember that, no matter what we may end up having AI do in our lives, the one thing that AI will always, unfailingly be is an idiot. If you don’t believe me, check out this incredible diagram that’s been going around the internet of an AI-generated disc brake system.
Well, maybe I’m being unfair by calling AI an idiot. It’s not so much an idiot as it’s, well, kind of ignorant. Well, maybe not even that; AI systems are fed vast amounts of data an information, so they’re not exactly ignorant, but they also have no awareness, no idea what’s real and what isn’t, which is why we end up with masterpieces like this diagram.
This image was first shared on the Manufacturing_and_production Instagram page:
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Why the hell did they post this in the first place? Engagement, I guess? Is the whole thing run by some stupid AI? Maybe?
What’s most amazing about this diagram is just how deliriously complex the damn thing is; I mean, just compare it to a diagram of a disc brake setup that actually exists in reality:
I had to look around for one with a lot of callouts, too. Now, let’s compare that to what our artificial brain thinks a disc brake is like:
Okay, let’s see if we can figure out just what is going on here; everything is quite clear and labeled, so that’s good, nobody should be mixing up their Abtoks for their Eualistics, at least.
So we still have a disc, labeled here as the Amer Cyinlor, or maybe Meac Faces, and it’s nice and thick, maybe even thicker than the caliper-like Eualistic. Some long shafts seem to connect this caliper-like unit to a large mechanism that appears to be labeled the Anti-LOCD Shislehbes, so any worry about an overabundance of LOCD should be eliminated.
I think that whole mechanism is fed by the Urinek, which I assume is a pressurized tank holding Brake Urine, and that gets pumped into the system by the Cakcestor, flowing through the Master Climder. I think the advantage of this system over conventional hydraulic brake systems is that each wheel has its own dedicated power system, and each wheel’s brake setup is completely independent.
I mean, that’s my guess; these units look pretty substantial and heavy, which I suspect would require larger and more robust suspension hardware. Also, the Master Clymber seems to be a little arm “reading” the brake disc itself; maybe it checks for wear or damage? That’d be useful!
A setup like this could eliminate the need for a master brake pump of some sort, which could be useful on an EV. Of course, it’s also good to remember that this is all completely made-up bullshit, something that started with noise and then got compared to millions and millions of images of brake diagrams until it got refined down to this pretty and meaningless pile of crap that I’m showing you now.
The future’s gonna be weird, friends! Not only will you have to sift through thousands of images to find the one you need when you’re trying to fix your car, now you’ll also have to figure out which ones are made-up bullshit, otherwise you’ll waste half your afternoon looking for the Abtoks and Urineks you needed to replace months ago.
What a world.
Skynet used to pretend to be as dumb as AI, as it prepared to become self aware.
We all saw how that shit ended, or didn’t.
We can only expect Arnold to save our asses one or two more times.
AI is a witch. Burn her!
Seriously.
This 100%. This ”funny” picture is just a work in progress: When the dyslexic engineer algoritm has finally figured out the disc brake, it will then start to design the perfect malaise-era carb with vacuum lines and all. When that is done: T-800.
What I found almost as disturbing was JTs “this is a real diagram”, had a callout pointing to what looks like a caliper piston and calling it a brake pad, then point to a pad and labeling it correctly.
You know that ABS was invented when Mrs. Bosch accidentally put blinker fluid in the brake urinal. True story!
UNPLUG THE INTERNET, NOW! Seriously there’s less good than bad emanating from the internet. And who thought it was a good thing to connect every raving lunatic in the world with all the other lunatics sharing the same crazed corner of the world.
Yes, the irony lamp is burning brightly here. 😉
Ummm, we’re connected too I guess?
Hence, the irony;)
Right. Thanks for the diagram – not AI generated I see.
Still less complicated than Hondas map of the universe
Or, late 70s Honda vacuum hose routing diagrams
me an’ these meac faces are headed to the bake pad to get eualistic if you cakcestors think you can hang…
Looks like the brakes I would expect on a limited run $5M Bugatti
Or the Czinger combined brake assembly https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Czinger-at-GFOS-4-640×480.jpg
Nope. Definitely a BMW design…
I’m surely not the only one who now wants to know how AI designs a Turbo Encabulator.
Gemini kept offering “images of futuristic devices” since it didn’t know what an encabulator was. I did get a nifty image of what it thought a Hydrocoptic Marzlevane might be though:
https://i.imgur.com/RYkB8Rv.jpeg
Strange, never would have thought of this, but if it works…
https://imgur.com/a/ACCUXTi
I have to admit as a mechanical designer the rendering of that brake is beautiful. Now give it eyes and a face A la Boris Artzybasheff and you’ll have something.
But FWIW Boeing is halfway there, the nose gear of a 777 has its own instrument panel:
https://www.reddit.com/r/aviationmaintenance/comments/11bumjr/landing_gear_pics_2017_boeing_777300er_n2136u_cn/
AI designs brakes like it writes code.
I had no idea VW was so ahead of the curve and started using AI to design their cars about 20 years ago until now.
This is analogous to how much an LLM understands about the words it produces.
The government transit company which I work for have been sent these images for review
Upper management, after consultation with various advisors, have decided they would like to purchase this braking system for their upcoming bus fleet expansion.
Could you please send me the phone number and address where I can complete the purchase of 500 units.
Best regards.
Hello. I am a Nigerian prince. Please send me money, and I will send you 500 units of this wonderful braking system.
Please contact me to proceed.
Prince ABS
I tried to read it all, but zoomed in to the pic and peed myself. Gotta go change.
And here I thought I knew all about your average breckor systtem. How naive I was….
I’m disappointed there was no reference to M.C. Escher or that a German Engineer is thinking “hmmm… this doesn’t seem complex enough.”
It’s almost as if a key component of ‘intelligence’ requires thinking, or something of the like.
Look at that Urinek. A plastic Urinek? Are these people trying to get people killed?
There are tons of videos on YouTube showing what happens when you cheap out on these. And these people are suggesting a *plastic* one? AI will be the end of us.
So, the master clymber goes inside the amer cynlor??
No wonder the damn thing would never stop!
It’s simple eualistics!
Show us how it looks tri-unfolded! I know a Mad mag fold-in when I see them!
This is a horrible, horrible misuse of a new technology.
From the printing press to the internet it has always been perfected on erotic art way, way before technical diagrams of engineering systems.
Does anyone want to see an AI generated image based on “hot couple doing it” with the current state of the art? Nope. No thank you. I imagine it’d be all sweaty elbows and too many eyes, like a spider thrown together from prosthetic body parts.
Urgh.
Don’t yuck my yum, dude.
Maybe it’s time to bring back kink-shaming.
The terms of use prohibit this, so we can only conclude that LLMs are a dead-end technology.
Does reverse psychology work on AI? What does it do when you ask it to produce an image of “not a hot couple doing it”?
I’d try but I’m afraid I’d get the Pee Tape…
I printed out a few of these and left them around my parts department for shits & giggles.
Somewhere in Germany, there is an engineer screaming, “Zat ist min dezine!”
I’d be temped to guess he/she works for BMW, but truth be told I don’t know enough about their brake systems to know if that would be at all fair. I read here they have to vacuum the oil out of their new engines because they got rid of the oil pan drain, so this feels about right though.
It still looks more inviting than dealing with drum brake springs without a good set of brake spring pliers.
I really need to find my brake spring pliers.
I’m pretty sure if you asked AI to do technical drawings for drum brakes, it will include both bass and snare drums… Every time you make a successful stop, it gives the driver a “badum tiss!”
Never done drum brakes with any special tools, still prefer them over some styles of discs
That wheel bolt pattern, is that asymmetric?
Might be handy so that you know you install your tyres the right way, instead of upside down. See, AI has smart ideas!!1!