DATABYTES FIRST PRINCIPLES
Databytes gives insights to help you improve your data analysis skills each month as Cosworth’s electronics engineers share tips and tweaks learned from years of experience with data systems. Plus we test your skills with a teaser each month.
To allow you to view the images at a larger size they can now be found at www.racecar-engineering. com/databytes
Memory sticks
Even the greatest drivers can do with a helping hand sometimes, notably in their recollections of a race…
M
odern racecar drivers have quite a lot to do in the office. Not only do they have to
navigate the vehicle at high speed around a circuit, they are also responsible for looking out for any possible signs of trouble with the racecar, as well as adjusting various mechanical and electronic devices, and
maintaining communications with the team on the pit wall. This means that when it comes to a debrief, there can be many details the drivers need to remember, such as what was the position of the anti-roll bar on the fastest lap, what was the brake balance, was there traffic etc. Given that all that is going on at great speed, it is extremely useful to be able to supplement the driver’s memory
by monitoring all the auxiliary actions of the driver. Brake bias, for example, is adjustable in most cars, and therefore it is important that this be measured in order to get the most out of the adjustability. This is relatively simple to monitor with front and rear brake pressure
bars, so it’s a good idea to monitor the position of the adjustment lever to make sure the balance adjustment is optimised. In more complex racecars
equipped with high end data and electronic control systems, this information can be sent and received in a number of different
It is extremely useful to
be able to supplement the driver’s memory
sensors and a simple maths channel to present the actual balance between the front and the rear of the car. Using this information effectively can help deliver improvement in braking performance. Many race cars also have driver-adjustable anti-roll
ways. If, for example, there is a rotary switch to choose different engine maps or differential settings, the signal from that switch can be sent to both the ECU and the data logger so there is a permanent record of what positon was selected at what time. The same applies to any control that is available to the driver on the steering wheel. But what other gains can be
Modern racecar steering wheels are a maze of buttons, giving drivers plenty to think about while also driving the car
had from monitoring these driver inputs? Modern data logging systems can be used to control a display for the driver and many also allow maths channels to run live on the system. Having this capability opens up some interesting options. For example, the simple function of pushing the pit lane speed limit button can also be used to trigger a timer. This is extremely useful in a situation where a car must be in the pits for a set amount of time as the timer can then be put on the vehicle display, so the driver knows exactly when to exit the pit box to minimise the time spent in the pit lane.
September 2011 •
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