Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

bbc.co.uk

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

191–197 of 197 posts

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#191

Post by pbo »

zdrummond wrote: post #144
pbo wrote: post #65

I wrote firmware (~20kLocs) for a power (electrical) supply that's part of one such power train. This kind of development is very demanding, because you can't afford to leave any bugs in your program but at the same time you're always shipping late because of tight schedules and often blurry specifications. On top of that hardware and software development cycles are concurrent, so no target hardware available when yo…

Can you do an AMA? I would love to hear more!

Even though the work environment is peculiar, the technical contents itself is far from exceptionnal, really.

If you'd like to read more about this kind of systems, this document could be a starting point: http://www.ti.com/lit/ml/slup232/slup232.pdf

It sums up pretty well the stakes and technical challenges with digital power supplies.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#193

Post by prof_hobart »

DanBC wrote: post #106
Spearchucker wrote: post #61

I stopped watching F1 about 10 years ago, and these new changes just reaffirm that decision. It's no longer about best car + best driver. It's about mixing it up, making it random, to maximise viewer numbers. Not the kind of racing I go for.

"Best car" in 2014 technology could be seriously very dangerous. It would also be so expensive that you'd get 4 companies competing. And best driver? Well, one guy seems to do quite well year after year, so maybe he's pretty good. It'd be cool to see (even simulated) how a Computer driver would do.

But a lot of the regulation changes aren't really about safety - things like standardised suppliers of tyres, or limiting the amount of track testing allowed. Sure, unlimited budgets would allow some companies to absolutely dominate - but that's not really any different today.

And yes Vettel is possibly the best driver. But the car and the support he gets from the team give him a pretty good head start.

F1's not about the best car you could build (or even the best "safe" car you could build), or about the best driver. It's mostly about the best car you build within the set of sometimes arbitrary constraints set by the FIA.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#194

Post by bliti »

JanezStupar wrote: post #192
bliti wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not due to the twin charging, but due to it being a VAG auto.

Show me a reliable twin charging design. I dare you. I double dare you.

I used to be a mechanic. So, show me a reliable VAG auto. Experience taught me to avoid them like the plague.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#195

Post by JanezStupar »

bliti wrote: post #194
JanezStupar wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Show me a reliable twin charging design. I dare you. I double dare you.

I used to be a mechanic. So, show me a reliable VAG auto. Experience taught me to avoid them like the plague.

Around here they are deemed as reliable as the sunset. This leads to comical situations where 10-15 year old VAG autos are sometimes priced almost the same as 5-10 year old autos from other brands.

AFAIK only real sour lemon were the 1.4 petrol engines and those dual charged engines from the mid 00's. But around here everybody knows that only true VAG engine is a diesel. That is the folk lore around here not my own opinion.

I myself drive a Peugeot as for my tastes price/performance of VAG is not as good.

Personally I would steer away from Renault (had several, only "good" car was R4 :)), and basically any American brand. I think that in the value department Asian brands are giving European and US brands quite a run for ther money. Too bad they do not make a Berlingo/Caddy/Kangoo class of a car.

Even if VAG is total shit, dual charged engines are not something you would want in your vehicle. I think hybrids are a much better and simpler option.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#196

Post by fennecfoxen »

Shivetya wrote: post #188
fennecfoxen wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In reply to cjrp (whom I can't reply to directly, strangely enough) -- it's harder to find diesel in the US than plain gasoline/petrol, but not that hard. Most trucks here use diesel, after all, and many gas stations have at least one diesel pump. It's mostly the gas stations along the commuter corridors to little bedroom communities which are gasoline-only.

truck pumps should not used to fuel cars, their flow rate is way to high and will cause damage if not bathe you in fuel. I haven't ever had an issue find low sulfur diesel on my travels, however I am mostly doing than East of the Mississippi.

Right about the truck pumps - I guess the main thing is that because trucks and other large diesel fuel consumers exist and are popular, the overall infrastructure for diesel, including refining and distribution networks, also exist. An individual pump is only a small part of that network.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#197

Post by ericcumbee »

protomyth wrote: post #181
ericcumbee wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah the cars needed to be slowed down. However the Restrictor plates were the wrong way to do it.

What would you propose?

smaller engines for one, maybe even make them production based. Part of that goes back to relevance to road cars. I test drove a Fusion when I was car shopping. needless to say a pushrod V8 was not one of the options.
Post reply on HN