P1: technology/motorsport

A new alternative for the HANS device

The Leatt-Brace is a new protective device designed by Dr. Chris Leatt, a South African neurosurgeon. The carbon fiber/kevlar device fits between your body and your helmet, and it's designed to provide a platform for the helmet that controls its motion in a crash, thus reducing the possibility of neck injury.

The Leatt-Brace is available in motorcycle and car models, and requires no modification of the helmet or the car's seat. Dr. Leatt is a motorcycle rider, and developed the device to allow a comfortable range of motion during normal riding or racing, while providing full protection in the event of a crash.

The company's website is very informative. Check it out. Could be a viable alternative to the HANS device.

Driver/car interface alternatives

Alex Zanardi's World Touring Car Championship race win at Oschersleben August 28th was a fantastic achievement by a remarkable man. But it also highlights the potential for alternative driver-car interface designs.

When you think about it, the vehicle control interface for the driver evolved little from the time designers worked out the clutch/brake/throttle pedal placement issue and the introduction of paddle shifters. Zanardi's BMW shows that not only is it possible to drive a car differently, but that it is possible to race and win, at the professional level, with a different approach.

Interestingly, BMW reports that the fly-by-wire throttle originally used in Zanardi's BMW has been replaced by a new mechanical linkage. It seems that the aerospace solution just wasn't quick enough.

Formula SAE

The annual Formula SAE competition (Formula Student in the U.K.) often showcases innovative, if sometimes not fully functional, design ideas. This entry, from the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, is a veritable motherlode of innovation:

• Carbon fiber monocoque chassis, with the engine a fully stressed part of the chassis
• turbocharged Yamaha R6 600 cc motorcycle engine, with electric water pump
• Semi-active suspension with fuzzy-logic control
• Gear change with integrated clutch control
• HP iPAQ PocketPC integrated into the steering wheel
• Car to pit telemetry
• IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)
• Wireless (Bluetooth) wheel temperature and pressure sensors
• GPS (Global Positioning System)
• Video over WLAN
• Driver heart-rate monitoring via Bluetooth
• Audio link between pit and car

All that, and it's beautifully fabricated, too. When did these kids have time for classes?

Fuel economy world record holder!

This little car won the 2005 Shell Eco-marathon, setting a world record of 5,385 km per liter of fuel. (That's a mind-boggling 12,862 miles per gallon!) Designed and developed by students and staff of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, the 3-wheeled car is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

The Shell Eco-marathon was established to challenge young people to design, build and race energy-efficient vehicles. The goal of the competitors is to drive as far as possible using the least amount of energy.

Electric drag racing

The National Electric Drag Racing Association is running its 2005 Nationals this weekend in Woodburn, Oregon. The NEDRA website has all the event data, plus info on all sorts of electric-powered drag racing cars and bikes, including a street legal Datsun 1200 that runs 13-second quarters at 100+ mph!

According to the press release, White Zombie is a 1972 Datsun 1200 powered by dual 8-inch Warfield motors for 200+ HP, 20 12-volt Exide batteries and a 1400 amp Godzilla controller. In race mode, dual Kilovac Bubba contactors bypass the controller for 2500 amps of delivered battery/motor current. I have absolutely no idea what any of that means, but the NEDRA folks do - if you're in the Portland area this weekend, check it out.

Fitness training for drivers - the Renault program

This article describes the fitness training program for the Renault Driver Development program - its version of the Red Bull junior program. The RDD approach emphasizes a variety of activities, including racquet sports, running in sand, and, of course, weight training.

This summer's program also included surfing, an activity that demands core body strength, as well as balance, coordination, agility and quick decision-making. Too often, racers neglect core body (trunk) exercises, relying too much on traditional "weight lifting" (arms, legs, shoulders). Get a trainer to set you up with a simple program of fitness ball and medicine ball exercises for your core muscle groups. Surf's up!

Design and manufacture your own custom parts!

The folks at eMachineShop.com can make you an expert part designer and fabricator! Well, maybe not an expert, but if you've always wanted to be able to make custom parts for your car - a mounting bracket for some new electronics, say, or a slick adapter to mate two mismatched parts - this might be the way to go. (Check out the picture of the fuel pressure regulator adapter)

eMachineShop provides free CAD software that you can download, which gives you expert design feedback instantly, computes an exact price in seconds and lets you conveniently order your part, in any quantity, via the web.

They support all sorts of materials, finishing and manufacturing methods, including injection molding, milling, turning, laser cutting, thermoforming, and many others.

No expensive CAD software to buy (and learn), no chasing all over town to find someone who can give you a quote on making your widget. Absolutely brilliant.

New twist on radio controlled cars

OK, here's the thing - these are r/c cars for people who can't figure out which way to turn the steering wheel when the car is heading toward them. That's it. They're called MiniFASTCARS (I swear I'm not making this up.) and the magic is provided by Remote Vision Control technology (patents applied for!)

The cars have onboard cameras looking out the windshield, and a microphone so you can hear your engine, and a low tech telemetry system that sends the audio and video feed back to an arcade-like driving console with a TV screen. Steering, throttle and brake controls on the console control the car with normal r/c equipment. NASCAR's Rusty Wallace has lent his name to the venture, presumably in a weak moment.

The cars are 1/4 scale and driven by a 23cc 2-stroke motor (your basic weedwhacker unit) putting out about 2hp. If you've seen competition r/c cars, there's nothing new.

So, the cars race outdoors, on a flat tri-oval. The drivers are indoors in a darkened room, sitting in an arcade console, staring at their tv screen and revelling in the authentic NASCAR sounds of a 2-stroke weedwhacker. Give me a break.

This is the lamest thing I've ever seen. If you must know more, go here. Videos here.

Carbon Fiber - The Next Generation

Move over carbon fiber! Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas and Australia's CSIRO have developed a process to produce carbon nanotube sheets at commercially useable rates. Made up of "forests" of nanotubes, each about 1/10,000 the diameter of a human hair, the transparent nanotube sheets have strength/weight ratios far greater than steel, and a variety of interesting electrical and thermal properties.

Aside from its structural properties, which should lead to stronger and lighter composite structures for racecars (always a good thing), the high thermal conductivity of the nanotube material could aid in engine cooling.

But wait, there's more! The material has strong microwave absorbing properties. Hmmm. Strong, clear films that absorb microwaves... How about a clear bra for your car that makes it invisible to radar speed traps! Taking stealth to the streets!

Supersides - road racing for two

This may be the coolest form of road racing you've never heard of! I remember once seeing a few sidecar road racing bikes in an exhibition race in the early '70s, but nothing since.

Well, it seems that the march of technology has transformed top-level sidecar road racing (they're called "supersides") as much as any other form of motorsport. Any resemblance to a motorcycle is long gone. In fact, they are closer to a 3 wheeled formula car, or maybe a Bonneville streamliner:

• disk brakes, all 3 wheels
• front suspension via steel wishbones to hub and upright
• car-type wheels and low profile slick tires
• rear multilink suspension

Lots of photos and technical information for FIM sidecar racing at superside.com. You will be amazed! (Photos Superside.com/Mark Walters)

Information on US sidecar road racing is here. And in case you were wondering, there is sidecar motocross racing, too! I'm not making this up - check it out.