| Data-logger firm Racelogic has
developed a GPS system that tracks drivers’ lines around corners
and trains them to understand how brake zones change.
The firm is in talks with several F1 teams, which are under increasing
FIA pressure to limit the money spent on aerodynamics.
Managing director Julian Thomas said: “Even the very top drivers
have a lot of room for improvement. We’ve seen an F1 driver gain
0.3 seconds a lap with the training. The team could spend millions finding
that performance in the car.”
The driver’s line and braking times have a greater influence on
a vehicle’s lap time. Take a corner precisely and the car can arrive
at the next one several km/h quicker. This can move the ideal brake point
several metres.
Doing those calculations corner by corner and braking accordingly isn’t
humanly possible, especially with pressure from competitors trying to
overtake. Drivers tend to brake early, which means they are not getting
the optimum lap time.
The firm’s VBOX system measures speed, position and acceleration
100 times a second with results accurate to within 5cm. Taking data from
the vehicle’s braking performance, the Brake Zone Trainer will use
an earpiece to count the driver down to the brake point. It is unlikely
that the system could be used in a race.
Racelogic is also working on a video system for racecars that mixes video
and data in real time. Teams already mount in-car cameras for races to
compare the data from other systems with the in-car footage, but this
usually requires a team of data engineers in support.
Racelogic’s approach will put the video and data on speed, G-force,
lap time and position on the circuit into one file on a flash memory card.
The system will be able to take up to four camera inputs, so it will be
possible to film the pedals, steering wheel and the track ahead and behind.
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