I have an assignment on Motorsport...

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bloodstriker

bloodstriker

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GTP_slowman
Yes, to be exact, in my Sports Studies subject, i have to write a report about the positive and negative impact technologies have had on a particular sport. i asked my teacher, and i can do a motorsport; i to do want either F1 or WRC.


Can you guys just list 3 technologies used in each sport? Thanks for help in advance.

i have a few though; The racing suits, and the neck braces the drivers wear. I just need one more point that has a negative effect because i need to discuss the negative effects of one of them.
 
Electronic aids in general. The super-auto-everything Williams FW14B that Nigel Mansell drove simply had to be steered, not much else. It had ABS, traction control, its transmission could "learn" the course and shift itself.

That's not to say that it was easy for him to win, just that it was a lot easier than not having all the aids. Basically, the teams with money had better electronics, not just better cars mechanically. It took away some advantage a better driver would have over an average driver, because the average driver could get just as much performance out of the car.
 
bloodstriker
i have a few though; The racing suits, and the neck braces the drivers wear. I just need one more point that has a negative effect because i need to discuss the negative effects of one of them.
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I think you mean the HANS device here dont you? Has had a great impact on the sport by helping prevent Basular skull fractures... :) Some info....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HANS_device
 
One advantage of technology is how safe cars are in a crash.
20 years ago this crash

would have been career ending however now drivers can walk away from them.
Unless you are the devil then that must be a good thing.
 
Just read the OP again and I think you were looking for more suggestions so here are a few more.

WRC:
Anti turbo lag
Mouse filled run flat tyres – now banned but here’s an article on it (http://www.gizmag.com/go/7558/)

F1:
Wheel tethers

If I think of anything else I’ll post again

Make sure you let us know how you get on
 
You'd have never have guessed this could go into the motorsport section....

As a motorsport student I'd go with The materials used, HANS device and other safety ideas. etc.



The biggest one is not even to do with the driver. It's the circuits, most of them have had the 'bite' and sense of danger removed with huge tyre walls and endless concrete run off areas. This is good for the safety of the sport but arguably weakens the excitement and viewer interest. As well as this, the cars have been slowed down and the teams heavily restricted.
 
Negative in what aspect? Certain aspects of motorsport are certainly inherently negative; motorsport itself can be ecologically hazardous on the locales around which it happens: numerous rally courses end up with destroyed trees, injured/killed wildlife etc.

I think the most certain negative "technology" of motorsport in general, is the combustibility of vehicles. Boats, open-wheel racers, NASCAR vehicles - many of these, under certain circumstances, are deathtraps when it comes to flammability. A punctured bladder or severed pump can quickly engulf a vehicle in flames, as hard as engineers try to prevent this from happening. The higher echelons of motorsport typically don't suffer from this as much, but investigate the smaller, regional competitions and you'll find much greater safety oversights.
 
Woah guys! Thanks so much for all the help! as you all know from the OP, i have to choose 3 technologies and then talk about the negative and positive impacts of one of the technologies. so for the third technology, it has to be good and bad. i'm thinking of electronic aids, because i could argue that it takes away from the skill level of the sport, but on the other hand, greatly improves car stability and whatnot.

Do you think electronic aids would be a good one?

Anyway, thanks a bunch for the help guys
 
bloodstriker
so for the third technology, it has to be good and bad. i'm thinking of electronic aids, because i could argue that it takes away from the skill level of the sport, but on the other hand, greatly improves car stability and whatnot.

Do you think electronic aids would be a good one?

Anyway, thanks a bunch for the help guys
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I think something a little more objectively 'negative' would be ideal; but I think an electronic aide (of sorts) with a good negative example is the KERS system and its' risks as demonstrated above.
 
There is definitely a case to be made over the affect improvement of aerodynamical designs. On the one hand, you have the advantage of a huge improvement in lap time. On the other hand, the turbulent air that is generated behind the car, makes it hard to follow, reducing overtaking opportunities which is not good for spectators.
 
Well, that is a very good point about the aerodynamic improvements, but i think something more basic like KERS would be better suited
 
Ok, What i mean is that i need a technology that is good and bad. then i have to state why the good outweighs the bad impacts. so stuff like KERS and Driver aids won't work because they've both been removed.
 
I can't use KERS and Driver aids because i have to state the positives and negatives of the technology, then say why it helps improves the standards of the sport. KERS and Driver aids have been removed. What i'm looking for has to have it's positives and negatives, but needs to be better overall for the sport
 
Then you're picking the wrong sports.

Try reading up on Le Mans Prototype racing... there have been several advancements in recent years... they've got diesel LMPs and ethanol LMPs.
 
High expenditure reduces the number of competitive teams that are able to produce such successful powerplants.

It seems you are being very narrow minded-many valid suggestions have already been produced.

KERS-slightly green, however unsafe
TC, LC-safer, but easier and reduces the spectacle
 
Ok, just thought about it...

I'll do driver aids. What are they exactly?
Traction Control, engine breaking systems?
 
bloodstriker
that doesn't have a negative effect..
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By purposely not changing the rules for the Le Mans class to better reflect modern technology and how powerful diesels have become thanks to direct injection, the FIA is making it harder and harder for small teams to compete. If you don't have a diesel, you don't have a car that can outright win a race. But to build a race-winning diesel, you need the budget and expertise of one of the manufacturer teams.

Basically, they're using the LMP races as a forum for showcasing alternative fuel vehicles. Which is good. What's bad is that they're stacking the deck against gasoline-powered vehicles in order to make alternative fuel vehicles look better than they are, which is bad. Like waggles said... it just makes it more expensive for everyone else to stay competitive with the top tier teams.

bloodstriker
Ok, just thought about it...

I'll do driver aids. What are they exactly?
Traction Control, engine breaking systems?
Click to expand...

Traction control, ABS, automated manual gearboxes, power steering, etcetera.

TCS and ABS have been banned... partially because you can change a car's handling by using a combination of the two... (selective TCS quells oversteer... using ABS sensors to selectively brake single wheels allows a driver to turn quicker)... rumors of illicit experiments by some teams to make cars that drive themselves with theses systems abound. Yet this kind of thing has made its way to road cars. DSC that uses selective wheel braking can be used to make road cars handle better and drive safer.

Semi-automatic gearboxes have had a rough time making it to the mass market. The single-clutch automated manuals that F1 cars use aren't smooth enough for general road use (as anyone who's suffered through the thunk-a-thunk of a BMW SMG can attest to), but dual-clutch automated manuals are the "next big thing".
 
niky
By purposely not changing the rules for the Le Mans class to better reflect modern technology and how powerful diesels have become thanks to direct injection, the FIA is making it harder and harder for small teams to compete. If you don't have a diesel, you don't have a car that can outright win a race. But to build a race-winning diesel, you need the budget and expertise of one of the manufacturer teams.

Basically, they're using the LMP races as a forum for showcasing alternative fuel vehicles. Which is good. What's bad is that they're stacking the deck against gasoline-powered vehicles in order to make alternative fuel vehicles look better than they are, which is bad. Like waggles said... it just makes it more expensive for everyone else to stay competitive with the top tier teams.



Traction control, ABS, automated manual gearboxes, power steering, etcetera.

TCS and ABS have been banned... partially because you can change a car's handling by using a combination of the two... (selective TCS quells oversteer... using ABS sensors to selectively brake single wheels allows a driver to turn quicker)... rumors of illicit experiments by some teams to make cars that drive themselves with theses systems abound. Yet this kind of thing has made its way to road cars. DSC that uses selective wheel braking can be used to make road cars handle better and drive safer.

Semi-automatic gearboxes have had a rough time making it to the mass market. The single-clutch automated manuals that F1 cars use aren't smooth enough for general road use (as anyone who's suffered through the thunk-a-thunk of a BMW SMG can attest to), but dual-clutch automated manuals are the "next big thing".
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help. One question, TCS is traction control (system) yea?
Can i say that DSC could be used to help prevent understeer (applied to inner rear) and oversteer(applied to outer front), therefore, taking away from the human skill aspect? I can then say it is not needed, because safety procedures and the design of the cars has improved so much it is not needed.

I wish i could say that about the williams FW16 of 94.....
 
Someone told me this "Engine braking systems have been banned because the electronical use of the clutch can be used as an ABS for the rear tyres during braking "
 

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