This looks like a typical startup disruption approach where they wanted to build the hardware from the ground up and didn't ask industry experts why something is done the way it is.
Reviewing profiles of Peloton mechanical engineers suggests they employ experts, including from heavily regulated industries. It seems unlikely that this was built without discussion or research. However, it’s true that they misjudged the risk here.
In this case wouldn't it be a cultural thing for the management rather than the engineers? They're both human, but if the boss says get it done or get out, the standard is set from the top.
Certainly. It would be comforting, as an engineer myself, to think that management must not have considered the problem. However, the truth is that management, design and engineering are all quite capable of trying to avoid problems, potentially to great lengths, and failing anyway.
