For 2012: Drivers torque demand via the accelerator pedal

[hardingfv32]

They are adding new restrictions to the drivers torque demand via the accelerator pedal.

Why would this be necessary?

Brian

[raymondu999]

I think it's to stop people calling ignition overrun other things. Basically the throttle pedal becomes a variable-intensity torque switch. Or that's the idea

[strad]

?????????

[hardingfv32]

This relates to off throttle blowing then.

Brian

[strad]

Apparently,,,I guess they want them to actually be off the throttle,,,when they are off the throttle.

[Richard]

Hi Brian, have you any more info on this? A link to a story or an extract of the regs?

[xpensive]

"Torque demand", how xactly do you do that technically-wise, torque measurement perhaps, and if so on which shaft, engine or drive?

[WhiteBlue]

This is the text of the 2012 technical regulations with regard to torque demand. New items in bolded print.

5.5 Engine torque demand:

5.5.1 The only means by which the driver may control the engine torque is via a single chassis mounted foot (accelerator) pedal.

5.5.2 Designs which allow specific points along the accelerator pedal travel range to be identified by the driver or assist him to hold a position are not permitted.

5.5.3 The maximum accelerator pedal travel position must correspond to an engine torque demand equal to or greater than the maximum engine torque at the measured engine speed. The minimum accelerator pedal travel position must correspond to an engine torque demand equal to or lower than 0Nm.

5.5.4 The accelerator pedal shaping map in the ECU may only be linked to the type of the tyres fitted to the car : one map for use with dry‐weather tyres and one map for use with intermediate or wet‐weather tyres.

5.5.5 At any given engine speed the driver torque demand map must be monotonically increasing for an increase in accelerator pedal position.

5.5.6 At any given accelerator pedal position and above 5,000rpm, the driver torque demand map must not have a gradient of less than – (minus) 0.030Nm / rpm.

It is obvious, that the regulations are written with the aim of linking engine power and throttle pedal position closely, so that the engine gas and power output cannot be influenced by ECU programs. This becomes obvious when you also look at the engine control and exhaust regulations. Particularly ignition base offsets are prohibited under 80% throttle or 15.000 rpm.

[Richard]

Thanks WB.

I agree it more explicitly links pedal to torque (ie output) whereas the old regs assumed a linkage.

It means that teams can't have clever mapping for the start of the race, or for different loads or tyre conditions. It means the diver's right foot needs to be more sensitive and subtle, they can't rely so much on a computer.

[xpensive]

Thanks WB, Crystal clear as usual.

So, how close to a spec-engine concept are we now are we now?

[WhiteBlue]

I think it makes sense if you agree with the teams and the FiA who want to eliminate the blowing of diffusors. So they issued new regulations on the exhaust specification, the pedal mapping and engine control which is based on the experience they gained from the chaotic discussions seen in the last season. I have some confidence that the package will do the job. Naturally it introduces more retrictions, but that always happens when you want to outlaw complex technologies.