A black box works by recording, monitoring, or tracking data about a system's inputs and outputs without revealing its internal workings. In different contexts, black boxes operate as follows:
- In vehicle insurance (telematics black box), it is a device installed in a car that records and transmits data about driving behavior—such as speed, braking, acceleration, and location—to insurance companies. This data helps assess driving safety and adjust insurance premiums accordingly. It records continuously and transmits data via cellular networks, sometimes giving drivers feedback to promote safer driving habits.
- In aviation, a flight data recorder (commonly called a black box) records all flight parameters and cockpit conversations. It is highly durable, located in the aircraft tail to survive crashes, and stores data for accident investigations. This device continuously records flight data and voice recordings, making the data accessible for post-accident analysis.
- More generally, the black box concept in science and engineering refers to a system viewed only by its inputs and outputs without knowledge of internal functions. The observer infers the system's behavior based solely on input-output relationships.
Thus, a black box works by capturing external data about a system's behavior, recording it, and using it for analysis or decision-making, without needing to expose or understand the internal mechanisms of that system.
