Conceptual Idea: Traction Monitoring
05-09-2006, 08:36 PM
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Conceptual Idea: Traction Monitoring
As a car rounds a turn, a force exists called centripetal acceleration, which is an outward inertial force that is counteracted by the force exerted between the road and the tires. Once the centripetal acceleration force (expressed in newtons) overcomes the traction force (also expressed in newtons), the car breaks free and slides. I had the idea that it would be possible to create a unit for a car that calculates a car's current centripetal acceleration along with the maximum traction force, so as to give the driver a numerical representation of exactly how much grip he has around a turn.
You see, centripetal acceleration is determined by the weight of the car, the speed of the car, and the radius of the turn. Traction is determined by the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road. If all this information could be garnered on the fly, the unit could easily calculate the exact forces acting on the car.
Sensors in the suspension could determine, at that moment, the total weight of the car, both mass and the added force from aerodynamics. The radius of the turn could be deduced by the pitch of the front wheels, leaving only speed to be deduced, which is obviously simple. The most challenging aspect is find the coefficient of friction of the tires and the road. TCS may already gather this information; if not, the unit should be able to figure it out from data from the car's ABS system.
Applicability: knowing right when you're about to lose traction is invaluable on the track. Cars could be pushed right to limit around corners, improving lap times. It also has uses as a safety feature, a kind of "early warning system" to be used in conjunction with DSC/TSC to prevent skids rather than just attempting to correct them.
What do you guys think? Am I the next American Inventor?
You see, centripetal acceleration is determined by the weight of the car, the speed of the car, and the radius of the turn. Traction is determined by the coefficient of friction between the tires and the road. If all this information could be garnered on the fly, the unit could easily calculate the exact forces acting on the car.
Sensors in the suspension could determine, at that moment, the total weight of the car, both mass and the added force from aerodynamics. The radius of the turn could be deduced by the pitch of the front wheels, leaving only speed to be deduced, which is obviously simple. The most challenging aspect is find the coefficient of friction of the tires and the road. TCS may already gather this information; if not, the unit should be able to figure it out from data from the car's ABS system.
Applicability: knowing right when you're about to lose traction is invaluable on the track. Cars could be pushed right to limit around corners, improving lap times. It also has uses as a safety feature, a kind of "early warning system" to be used in conjunction with DSC/TSC to prevent skids rather than just attempting to correct them.
What do you guys think? Am I the next American Inventor?
05-09-2006, 10:09 PM
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jersey fresh
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