16 replies to this topic

[zppd]

I mean, how is it activated and what does the driver have to do to start the car? Does it do all the clutch work for the driver, so he floor the gas and go? Or he holds the gas at certain rpm and when the lights go out, a button is pressed then the car takes over, no wheel spins just forward movement.

I am no fan of TC and LC, but the technology is amazing.

zppd

[imaginesix]

Surely the procedure differs for each team, but I would think that each system would have the 3 following steps in common:

1* The driver signals to the computer that a start is imminent when the red light start comming on. The computer would then take care of RPM, gear selection, cluctch and any other system needed to prepare for the start.

2* When the lights go out, the driver will signal the computer again so acceleration and shifting would be taken care of. Perhaps this is done by releasing the brake pedal?

3* Control would return top the driver at some preset point, RPM or road speed perhaps, or if the driver signals the computer again.

Then there are probably a bunch of overrides and safety options, like perhaps cancellation of LC upon brake pedal re-application.
But that's as much as I can guess.

[Top Fuel F1]

The Spainish GP Speedvision Qualification shows MS practicing Launch Control starts. He sits with the RPM at a high rate. He presses a button (I'm not 100% sure whether this is prior to the RPM going up or after) on the right side of the dash board to put the car in the Launch Control mode. When he moves the shift paddle into first gear the car proceeds in a quick smooth motion without any tire smoke. All up shifting is fully automatic through out this mode.

I'll check my video again.

Rgds;

[ForzaF1]

I sathat video on SV during their practice coverage, it was very interesting.

MS drives up pit lane and stops at the end of the speed limit section. He sits there for a couple of seconds and then pushes a button on the steering wheel, the revs immediately jump up and remain constant until he pulls the right paddle and off he goes....

As mentioned above I believe the Driver first activates the system (presumably by a SW button) and then signals a start either by another button or the paddle or the clutch.

[random]

I read that the Jordan system is activated with the release of the brake pedal. But as others have said, it could probably be customized to the preference of the driver or team.

[Janzen]

In one of the practise sessions they had a great shot of DC practising starts. He kept the revs up keeping thumb pressed on a button on the right side of wheel (top right what i could see) when he relesed the button off he went wich is more than he did at the start of the warmup lap.(Maybe he forgot how to do it the old fashioned way). I do not know if he did anything else, it seems reasonable to just let go of a button than press a button.

[MrAerodynamicist]

No doubt I'l have overlooked something really obvios but could it not just be activated every time the driver comes to a stop?

[SHuey]

I thought on the SpeedVision pre-race show they showed a steering wheel from either a Williams or Jordan I believe, and said that the driver activates LC by pressing a button on the upper left of the wheel, then stands on the gas, and when the lights go out, 1 quick tap of the right paddle sets everything into action.

- Steve

[imaginesix]

Originally posted by MrAerodynamicist
No doubt I'l have overlooked something really obvios but could it not just be activated every time the driver comes to a stop?

I suppose it could, with the 'negative option' of deselecting LC if the driver does not desire it.

But if we take LC activation to mean:
1- Increased engine RPM up to optimal launch speed
2- Selection of 1st gear
3- Prepartion of clutch action
Then I can think of 2 situations that would favor the 'positive optioning' of LC:

While the car is waiting for the grid to form, or goes off-track and must stop before re-joining, then these 3 LC steps would not be desired.

Originally posted by SHuey
When the lights go out, 1 quick tap of the right paddle sets everything into action.

Having given it some thought, I would be surprised if the launch signal was anything other than releasing the brake pedal.

Since the driver HAS TO hold the brakes at the start, and since he HAS TO release them to get going, it is counterproductive to introduce a duplicate signal mechanism, such that the car will only respond to the slowest of the two signals: either the brake pedal release, or the paddle actuation.

The only case that would necessitate a seperate signal for the actual launch, would be if the rules banned any electonic sensor from taking it's signal from any part of the braking mechanism.
As far as I know there is no such rule.

[Top Fuel F1]

Originally posted by Top Fuel F1
The Spanish GP Speedvision Qualification shows MS practicing Launch Control starts.

I'll check my video again.

Rgds;

I checked the video again in slow motion: MS's right hand comes up and he touches something on the right side of the steering wheel. Then his hand returns to holding the wheel. Then the right hand comes up and he reaches all the way across and touches something on the left side of the steering wheel. His hand then returns to it's normal position. Then again the right hand comes up and he reaches all the way across and again touches something on the left side of the steering wheel. At that moment the revs jump up to a high RPM. His hand returns to the normal position. The announcer mentions that he moves the shift paddle to the first gear position. The car then immediately moves smartly away with only a small wisp of tire smoke.

Rgds;

[unrepentant lurker]

Hi,

The internet is wonderful. I'm not sure how I ever lived without it.

Check out this clip from Racefreak. http://www.f1-clips....rts-uit-pit.avi
Its a collection of cars making starts from the pitlane exit. It seems that all the cars have sort of the same procedure (as mentioned by people already). But what I saw on it were:

1. The driver activates LC, usually by pressing a button on the wheel.

2. Engine revs pick up immediately, and the car sounds like its backfiring bigtime.

3. The driver then signals the car to GO. Looks like most are using the paddle system.

4. As the car takes off, the backfire noise(TC?) drops off quickly.


Top Fuel,

I saw the MS thing you were talking about. Here's my take.

1. MS activates the system once. You can here the system initiate. Then he does something to pre-empt the go. He probably just wanted to check that feature.

2. MS activates the system a second time. It just didn't seem to take this time. You can here the engine change for a fraction of a second and return to normal.

3. MS activates the system for a third time, and then takes off.


JV looks like he was having a hard time of it.

[palmas]

How acurate is launch control?
How would it perform in a gravel pit?

[f1pro]

I saw an interview with Mike Gascoyne (Bennetton head engineer) about the procedure of LC. The driver press the clutch and maintain it press and press a button to activate the LC system and release the clutch. After he pressed the button, the RPM goes up and when the red lights go off he shift in first gear and the LC system accelerate by himself.

[KinetiK]

What type of .avi is that mentioned by unrepentant lurker??? . http://www.f1-clips....rts-uit-pit.avi

I can't watch it with the latest & greatest M$ media player...

[unrepentant lurker]

Errr, Sorry:blush:

You need to install the codec.
http://members.home....3/divx/divx.exe

[KinetiK]

I thought it might be the DIVX codec so i got the alpha4 and still no luck. Just downloading your codec from the link there...! can't wait to see the video!!

[KinetiK]

That's a cool ass video man. Thanks for providing the access to the 3.1 codec. The 4.0 doesn't support 3.1 yet, he's mulling over backwards compatibility still... i don't know why though. it should be obvious that it be included imo.

Interesting sounds from the engines there. Esp the BMW. MS got it right on the 3rd try, JV couldn't get it right at all. He kept rolling ahead!