stoopid F1 car question

[WorkingOnIt]

What do the tube and antenna on the F1 front panel do?

[benyeats]

That antenna is most likely for the driver to pits radio (speech). 

Can't see the tube in enough detail to figure out what it does but they do often have aircraft style pitot tubes to measure air speed so possibly that but looks in the wrong orientation.

There will be another antenna somewhere for the car to pits telemetry data, I know a lot about those

Ben

[wisp]

Which antenna? The long metal one or the short black one?

[Heywood-Yablowme]

That thing looks like it has a mower deck under it..

[wisp]

[quote="benyeats"]
Can't see the tube in enough detail to figure out what it does but they do often have aircraft style pitot tubes to measure air speed so possibly that but looks in the wrong orientation.

[/quote]

That is the right orientation for a pitot tube. Facing forward into the airflow.

[benyeats]

[quote="wisp"]
[quote="benyeats"]
Can't see the tube in enough detail to figure out what it does but they do often have aircraft style pitot tubes to measure air speed so possibly that but looks in the wrong orientation.

[/quote]

That is the right orientation for a pitot tube. Facing forward into the airflow.

[/quote]

The one on the car looks like it is pointing upwards rather than parallel to the surface on which it is mounted as per aircraft installations.

The third antenna could be the telemetry antenna, although I doubt it as the frequency used is typically much higher and it is not mounted there on Ferrari's competitor's car   Another guess might be the FIA safety system that lets drivers know the safety car is out or if yellow flags are being waved.

Ben

[wisp]

[quote="benyeats"]
The one on the car looks like it is pointing upwards rather than parallel to the surface on which it is mounted as per aircraft installations.

[/quote]

Most likely an optical illusion due to camera angle. Can't think what else it would be other than the pitot tube.

There are definitely 2 antennae be hind it.

[Heywood-Yablowme]

Maybe some sort of vent?  The front gunner has to get fresh air....

[DFext37 Fielding]

that is taken from the gran Turismo game, that is the 06 ferrari, so maybe the 09 car has dirrerent aeriels.

[fiestycolumbian]

[quote="benyeats"]
The one on the car looks like it is pointing upwards rather than parallel to the surface on which it is mounted as per aircraft installations.

The third antenna could be the telemetry antenna, although I doubt it as the frequency used is typically much higher and it is not mounted there on Ferrari's competitor's car   Another guess might be the FIA safety system that lets drivers know the safety car is out or if yellow flags are being waved.

Ben
[/quote]
Would you stop  and guessing! Just tell us all your F1 secrets already. 
(Its not like the F1 teams monitor this board  )

fiesty

[benyeats]

[quote="wisp"]
[quote="benyeats"]
The one on the car looks like it is pointing upwards rather than parallel to the surface on which it is mounted as per aircraft installations.

[/quote]

Most likely an optical illusion due to camera angle. Can't think what else it would be other than the pitot tube.

There are definitely 2 antennae be hind it.
[/quote]

I am stuck as to what else it could be but on other F1 cars I have known and loved it has been mounted much closer to horizontal with a longer section for getting the air in.

[quote="fiestycolumbian"]

Would you stop  and guessing! Just tell us all your F1 secrets already. 
[/quote]

No

Cheers

Ben

[WorkingOnIt]

Dext is absolutely correct, the image is originally from the gran Turismo prologue, which I hadn't realized when I posted it, so accuracy not guaranteed.

I did find this:


and these, from 2006 and current, with more complicated looking pitot rigs:



Pitot tube was my speculation, what with the publicity they are getting in the Air France crash.  It's interesting that the F1 aerodynamics are so sophisticated that more info than ground speed is necessary.

I particularly noticed the projections during last weekend's Turkish Grand Prix with the shadows from them rotating around the front panel.  I trust the shadows are less annoying from the driver's height.

It kind of suprised me to see a projecting antenna.  It seems a little low-tech.  I might have expected something built into the shell or intake structure.

[AndyLUFC]

Amazing the amount of aero shite removed for '09. Way better looking now IMO apart from the massive end plates.

[img width=800 height=600]http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/wp-content/u ... e_barc.jpg[/img]

[benyeats]

[quote="WorkingOnIt"]
It kind of suprised me to see a projecting antenna.  It seems a little low-tech.  I might have expected something built into the shell or intake structure.
[/quote]

Some of the antenna probably are (definately are on at least 1 current F1 car) However I imagine it is all about packaging and:

i)  The FIA yellow flag / safety car warning device was introduced in a hurry so is likely to be somewhat of a lash up
ii)  The driver comms box is likely to be behind the steering wheel so having the antenna nearby saves routing a cable, also you will get better performance from said antenna with a shorter cable run.

Ben

[Alec]

They could be designing a new refueling rig to speed it up by doing it on the move. 




By the way, I thought that looked like one of Jenson's old helmets behind the cockpit . . . .



. . . . but it's probably just R2D2.