41 replies to this topic

[GrumpyYoungMan]

When the world needs unity - the seven UK teams form to make ventilators under the name Project Pitlane...

[GrumpyYoungMan]

When the world needs unity - the seven UK F1 teams form to make ventilators under the name Project Pitlane...

Edited by GrumpyYoungMan, 27 March 2020 - 18:40.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

Please close and delete - I tried and failed!

[Risil]

I merged your two threads, because I couldn't resist it.

[Risil]

Anyway, this is great news. Good for them.

[RekF1]

It's worth saying twice. **** it, do a third thread.

[AustinF1]

Here ya go ...

 

 

 

Seven UK-based F1 teams unite around ‘Project Pitlane’ to assist with ventilator production

 

https://www.formula1...Sgqk3P52fp.html

[Marklar]

maybe fix that typo while you are at it 😁

[GrumpyYoungMan]

maybe fix that typo while you are at it 😁

Yes please... lol

[RekF1]

maybe fix that typo while you are at it

German much? Oh, my bad.

[Fatgadget]

This begs the question how long  reverting back to normal operations after all is done and dusted?

[Rocha46]

This begs the question how long  reverting back to normal operations after all is done and dusted?

 

2 years

[R Soul]

Great example of innovation. I hope the FIA doesn't ban it.

[PayasYouRace]

It's always good to see that behind the rivalries and the competition, the F1 community is a family and they'll put their grumbles aside for real good.

[Sterzo]

This is a fantastic story. I particularly like the proposal to "reverse engineer." I deduce from this they've said, give us a used ventilator and we'll copy it quicker than you can find the drawings.

 

I just hope that if / when I need a ventilator, I get a choice of make. I'd like a Mercedes, please, rather than one that might be retired halfway through to save spares.

[Requiem84]

Will they paint them in team colors and add a soundtrack?

Jk obviously, fantastic initiative!

[Spillage]

Well done to all involved. The teams have the capability to quickly manufacture new parts, and I hope their efforts save lives.

[RainyAfterlifeDaylight]

Spec has always been the answer! 😁

[ExEd]

Well done to them , bravo. I really fear for NHS ,they need all the help they can get.

[ARTGP]

These ventilators will have class-leading airflow properties...Rest of the ventilator market, beware 

[GrumpyYoungMan]

This is a fantastic story. I particularly like the proposal to "reverse engineer." I deduce from this they've said, give us a used ventilator and we'll copy it quicker than you can find the drawings.

I just hope that if / when I need a ventilator, I get a choice of make. I'd like a Mercedes, please, rather than one that might be retired halfway through to save spares.

Did they really say that? Lol!

[ExFlagMan]

Will the ventilators carry team/sponsor logos?

[DogEarred]

All the teams have excellent rapid prototyping facilities as well as machine shops & electronic shops.

This could set things up for fairly rapid production, provided they can source the base materials needed.

Good luck to them doing something useful.

[68targa]

If F1 engineers and teams can't design and produce prototypes, who can?

 

A good news story when we need one.

[wj_gibson]

Will the ventilators carry team/sponsor logos?

They’ll be spec machines with no labelling. Or if there is labelling, it will be Project Pitlane labelling. I can’t imagine any team would want the possible PR negativity that would be associated with any accusation of promoting their brand through a crisis, no matter how misguided such criticism might be.

[Risil]

I think that was a joke WJ!

[BuddyHolly]

Well done teams!

[jjcale]

This is a fantastic story. I particularly like the proposal to "reverse engineer." I deduce from this they've said, give us a used ventilator and we'll copy it quicker than you can find the drawings.

 

I just hope that if / when I need a ventilator, I get a choice of make. I'd like a Mercedes, please, rather than one that might be retired halfway through to save spares.

 

I'm looking forward to the (T)Racing point version of whatever is the class leader up to this point .... "honest guv ... we done it from long range spy shots ... we had no help at all"

[Risil]

Hopefully none of the doctors will accidentally press the wrong part of the computer screen and activate the hidden launch control software one of the teams left in.

[Victor]

Well, actually this is not at all new. Brabham did it 1978 with their BT46B.

[Gary Davies]

I hope the F1 designers are able to resist their usual instincts. Other, these ventilators could end up weighing 250 grammes and costing $50,000 each. 

[pdac]

I hope the F1 designers are able to resist their usual instincts. Other, these ventilators could end up weighing 250 grammes and costing $50,000 each. 

 

And they won't be able to operate effectively if they are in close proximity to another one.

[DogEarred]

What is NOT needed at this stage is new designs.

What IS needed is to be able to manufacture existing designs - fast.

[pdac]

What is NOT needed at this stage is new designs.

What IS needed is to be able to manufacture existing designs - fast.

 

But where's the fun in that?

 

Seriously, I agree with you, but for some reason those who have taken up the challenge all seem to want to do their own thing.

 

Edit:

Or, at least, keep the packaging and the user-interface the same. That way those already familiar with how to set them up and use them will be able to use their muscle memory in a stressful situation.

Edited by pdac, 28 March 2020 - 23:21.

[Owenjf]

What is NOT needed at this stage is new designs.

What IS needed is to be able to manufacture existing designs - fast.

Considering they are trying to assist where they can with scaling up production of existing designs I dont really see why its an issue especically when you consider the goal of a new design;

 

"There is also a further challenge to the wider engineering and manufacturing community to fast-track a simpler ventilator system."

 

What we need is mass production of ventilators in a very short time frame by existing manufacturing plants that are designed to make anything but a ventilator, what we dont need is to just carry on trying to force produce existing designs in facilities that cant produce whats actually required efficiently using designs that arent designed to be made quickly.

 

This is exactly the same problem that occured in WW2, existing equipment they took far to long to make, was resource hungry and required a specialised work force. Industry came forward with new designs that were quick to make in huge volumes requiring less materials and a less skilled workforce.

 

Time is certainly not on their side but if this results in a ventilator design that can be mass produced easily by existing manufacturing plants all around the world, it could mark a major turning point in the fight against the virus. I think its worth looking at.

[Radoye]

We need USF1 to be resurrected so that they can build a toaster (single one) instead of ventilators (multiple).

[Clatter]

What is NOT needed at this stage is new designs.

What IS needed is to be able to manufacture existing designs - fast.

What's needed is a lot of ventilators, and very quickly. I doubt that the existing ones can be produced in the time and numbers required without proper tooling. What the F1 group and others can do is design and build a simplified model that can be produced with their existing workshops.

[pdac]

Sounds like Mercedes have CPAP units on trial and it's suggested that they can produce up to 1000 units per week if they pass (https://www.bbc.co.u...health-52087002). Still a lot more needed, but things are coming together.

[BarryJohnson]

It says up to 1000 units a day in the article and presumably other teams could do the same if necessary

[Sterzo]

According to Autosport, the device has now been approved for use by the NHS. It was reverse engineered (i.e. copied) from equipment used in other countries, and the project was based at (and probably led by) University College in London. That's in effect London University, where they've always had a major medical section.

 

https://www.autospor...approved-by-nhs

[Sterzo]

The device produced by UCL & Mercedes isn't a ventilator, but a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, which is a pressurised mask. It's a halfway house between a standard face mask and a ventilator, the idea being that many patients then won't need the tube down their throats and the sedation that goes with the ventilator. And the one they've copied and adapted is out of patent.

 

https://www.bbc.co.u...health-52087002

[PayasYouRace]

This isn’t the place for a debate on the merits of IP and patents. I apologise for my part in derailing the thread. Unless there’s actual news about F1 teams getting into trouble please have that discussion in the Paddock Club where is it more appropriate. As far as we know the designs the F1 teams are going off have been provided to them in a way that they have a right to manufacture and modify them. Let’s move on.