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McLaren Birdcage?

Started by sidepodcast , Feb 18 2009 13:01

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43 replies to this topic

#1 sidepodcast

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:01

anyone know what this device does?

Posted Image

and is that really a bird?

more here:

http://tinyurl.com/mclarenkembletest

#2 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:06

I'd guess some device for measuring the airspeed/airflow dynamics around or into the sidepod?

Or some mounting for cameras to make a fancy TV commercial?

#3 One

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:08

It looks liek car is being pulled to garage, it makes me think that a film shot scene is going on....

#4 sidepodcast

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:13

Originally posted by One
It looks liek car is being pulled to garage, it makes me think that a film shot scene is going on....

the car stalled doing some kind of start check, and it is being towed. however, the device was present during an earlier more successful run too.

#5 Snap Matt

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:17

It's obviously a frame for more of their invisible bodywork.

#6 Enkei

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:18

Is that rear wing the new 09 wing? Seems logical they want to straight line test it first and compare wind tunnel tests.

#7 Owen

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 13:33

They may be putting smoke over the bodywork to check the aero (again).
Or I could be blowing smoke up your *ss.

#8 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 14:45

What is that extra black scoop attached under the sidepod opening? Has that always been there?

Also, that's a pretty hefty bunch of cables leading up to whatever that thing is on the birdcage.

#9 Owen

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 15:48

Originally posted by potmotr
What is that extra black scoop attached under the sidepod opening? Has that always been there?

Also, that's a pretty hefty bunch of cables leading up to whatever that thing is on the birdcage.

It sure as h*ll isn't a bird by the way :rotfl:

#10 Garagiste

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:11

The "bird" looks like the unsheathed cables coming out of the black loom and looping around a bit of the "cage". No idea what the thing is supposed to be for though.

#11 Jhope

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:17

It's a camera mount. Making video's for Promotional usage.

#12 hunnylander

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:19

Originally posted by Garagiste
The "bird" looks like the unsheathed cables coming out of the black loom and looping around a bit of the "cage". No idea what the thing is supposed to be for though.

I suppose the same.

This is hi-tech. McLaren is studying aero efficiency of the birds. :lol:

#13 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:32

So what's that black scoop under the sidepod?

#14 Dragonfly

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:34

Hmm it may actually be a bird ... :confused:

#15 Owen

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:35

Originally posted by potmotr
So what's that black scoop under the sidepod?

That's been on the car in Jerez testing. It's believed to be a stop gap solution to cooling the KERS system. That's the conclusion of us armchair experts*

*could be BS

#16 Owen

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:36

Originally posted by Dragonfly
Hmm it may actually be a bird ...

I can assure you. It's not. Look more closely.

#17 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:38

Originally posted by Owen

That's the conclusion of us armchair experts*

*could be BS

** But sounds like a decent theory.

Have thrown the question into next door's MP4-24 forum too.

#18 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:40

Originally posted by Dragonfly
Hmm it may actually be a bird ...

Given that we can't see the rest of the car, could it be some kind of elaborate sensor or camera to capture the flow of something that's being projected or blown over the car from a source ahead of the cage?

#19 Owen

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:42

Originally posted by potmotr

Given that we can't see the rest of the car, could it be some kind of elaborate sensor or camera to capture the flow of something that's being projected or blown over the car from a source ahead of the cage?

Sounds plausible to me.
Can we please rule out the bird now? It's hilarious. :lol:

#20 Dragonfly

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:49

Nothing is impossible given that it seems the car is being towed at that pic.

There is a bunch of what looks like cables coming out of the black tube and split in a fan shape just below the object. Actually it may be sensor or a connector or a camera. But the light and shadows make it look really like a bird.

#21 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:53

Given how flimsy that frame is can we assume that PDLR isn't going to be travelling at any great speed with the birdcage attached? If he went off I can imagine him wearing that thing on his head and seeing, er, canaries.

#22 One

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 16:58

Look, the "tail" of the bird becomes black at tit's botom end, and if you folowe that black line, you hit tata... another bird look a like thing, which is a sort of loos cables. I kinda think that 'bird' head is a lends of a camera. Funny Mclaren has time to do this promotional stuff. For sure this is for Vodafone...? Or are they trying to attract Virgin in case they fail to land Honda purchase?

#23 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 17:03

OK, lets assume they're making an ad.

If it is for Vodafone then you'd have to assume the driver is not a part of this current shoot.

Otherwise they'd have everyone's favourite World Champion Lewis Hamilton in the seat wouldn't they?

So perhaps the head of those cables actually attaches to the rear of a camera facing forward.

Or else the ad is for Vodafone in Spain, or Banco Santander in Spain, hence the appearence of PDLR rather than the far more marketable Lewis Hamilton.***

(***Or, as said above, this could be complete nonsense!)

#24 Dragonfly

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 17:03

If it is shooting of a promotional material I wouldn't be surprised later if we see an ad with a bird. Who can follow the thoughts of an ad creator?

#25 potmotr

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 17:15

I believe we have a winning answer...

http://forums.autosp...960#post3481960

#26 ruby soho

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 17:25

Originally posted by potmotr
I believe we have a winning answer...

http://forums.autosp...960#post3481960

The bird thing seems more plausible to me

#27 scarbs

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 17:51

The bird cage is a probably a mounting aero testing. The car was also fitted with a similar array of pressure taps in front of the airbox inlet. The ‘bird’ is a bundle of transparent tubing curled up and possibly not in use, while the airbox inlet test was being conducted. No doubt these tubes would have been fitted to the cross bracing inside the ‘birdcage’ on subsequent runs. The ‘birdcage was fitted behind the front wing and this is most likely due to the fact that McLaren has fitted the extended wheel fairings, so they were checking the flow off the wheel matched to what they were expecting. This also tallies with the ‘flow vis’ test in Jerez last week. This sort of test is common at tests and especially at private tests 9such as straightline testing), so don’t jump to conclusions that Mac have a problem, this is just the level of detail teams need to go through to be sure their tunnel and CFD tests are accurate.

Scarbs

#28 metz

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 18:20

Of course it's a bird.
Birds (the yellow kind) have been used by the mining industry for years when it comes to safety and checking (windy) tunnel data.

#29 Enkei

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 18:21

Transparent engine covers and bird cages. You got to give it to them, they are pretty inventive aren't they? :lol:

#30 Hyatt

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 18:53

maybe they are experiencing paranormal phenomenons like Honda did a few years ago ...

Posted Image

#31 sopa

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 19:01

Originally posted by Enkei
Transparent engine covers and bird cages. You got to give it to them, they are pretty inventive aren't they?

Soon the whole McLaren will be transparent!

#32 Dragonfly

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 19:34

A better and clearer view of the "bird"

Sensors? Optical fiber?

Edit: Ah, I see killfile has eplained it here
http://forums.autosp...067#post3482067

#33 AyePirate

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 19:41

Doesn't look like a camera mount to me. Something to measure chassis flex?

#34 f1rules

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 20:10

nnnnooooooooo, dont say that, flex in the chassis is the worst possible problem. Last time we experienced that was with the 18 and remember which problems that got us in too. Honda has had the same problem. Its nearly impossible to solve, except designing and making a complete new chassis, but first you have to locate were the flex is and that is very very dificult. For us mclaren fans, i hope its not there the problem lies.

#35 AyePirate

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 21:16

Maybe it's does nothing but make the other teams wonder what it is and how to counter it

#36 MikeTekRacing

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 21:28

Originally posted by AyePirate
Doesn't look like a camera mount to me. Something to measure chassis flex?

I don't think any mount would have those 20 (exaggerating) connections to the car. it has so many wires it looks like a freakin heavy duty bridge
so if it connects as many points there has to be a reason for it

#37 Guido.Gofasta

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 21:47

Originally posted by hunnylander
This is hi-tech. McLaren is studying aero efficiency of the birds.

So, what is the airspeed velocity of a sparrow?

#38 AyePirate

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 21:48

African or European?

#39 macoran

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 22:53

Originally posted by MikeTekRacing

I don't think any mount would have those 20 (exaggerating) connections to the car. it has so many wires it looks like a freakin heavy duty bridge
so if it connects as many points there has to be a reason for it

That many cables won't allow no flexing no more, anyway they're attached to too much bodywork to measure chassis anything

#40 macoran

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 22:53

Originally posted by AyePirate
African or European?

Velocity or Sparrow ?

#41 One

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Posted 18 February 2009 - 23:09

air flow mapping, interesting, but then the gril should be a grid rather than this diagonal? I mean then airflows throu every sq cm can be mapped well...

#42 Tenmantaylor

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 00:13

Originally posted by AyePirate
African or European?

I dont know.... AAAAA aaaaaa hhhhhh............

In all seriousness though... its actually HILARIOUS the level of circumspection of McLarens car pre-season and these weird coincidences. First the seethrough bodywork, now the bird box whatever next? Dont be surprised to see a vision of Jesus (or Senna) appear when viewed from a certain angle.