Simulations--How do they work?

Revman

Revman

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America
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Anybody know how these "sims" work in light of the ban on testing. What does an engineer enter, and what comes out so to speak?
 
ChexOrWrex said:
Can you elaborate?
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Are the simulators like video games (more technical of course)? If so, do the drivers "drive" the course to help determine set ups? Can the engineers determine set ups sans the driver? Do the engineers come up with a base set up, and then record all of the tweaks in preparation for track activity? When does this happen? Who writes the software--internal?....I know that much of the stuff is proprietary. Just looking for details.
 
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Revman said:
Are the simulators like video games (more technical of course)? If so, do the drivers "drive" the course to help determine set ups? Can the engineers determine set ups sans the driver? Do the engineers come up with a base set up, and then record all of the tweaks in preparation for track activity? When does this happen? Who writes the software--internal?....I know that much of the stuff is proprietary. Just looking for details.
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I havent even heard of the VR sims idea so I havent a clue.
 
We arent allowed to talk about stimulation on here Rev :rolleyes:
 
Sims are primarily used in providing young drivers with additional experience. I remember reading a lengthy story a few years ago about an ARCA and F1 driver who use these simulators in the weeks leading up to a race/test at a track they have never visited in real life.
 
I know several drivers who uses iRacing from time to time. Earnhardt Jr. used to be big in the sim racing world, not so much anymore.
 
SpeedPagan said:
I know several drivers who uses iRacing from time to time. Earnhardt Jr. used to be big in the sim racing world, not so much anymore.
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Do you know why that is? Now that I think about it, I haven't heard him mention iRacing in probably 4 or more years. He used to talk about it constantly and I'm shocked that he would move away from it. Maybe he felt it distracted him from his real life racing performance?
 
RacerrecaR said:
Do you know why that is? Now that I think about it, I haven't heard him mention iRacing in probably 4 or more years. He used to talk about it constantly and I'm shocked that he would move away from it. Maybe he felt it distracted him from his real life racing performance?
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It could be that he is simply too busy, now. Also, he just may have moved on to something else.
 
RacerrecaR said:
Do you know why that is? Now that I think about it, I haven't heard him mention iRacing in probably 4 or more years. He used to talk about it constantly and I'm shocked that he would move away from it. Maybe he felt it distracted him from his real life racing performance?
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Probably realized that he needs to focus on real world racing more and spend less time living like a college frat guy.
 
I would imagine they dont have a video game type pod/car for a driver to sit in and practice with to determine setups... but something more like a program that would determine the outcome of different functions based on outside influences... like how many pounds of down force will they get on the nose at 175MPH on a 45 degree bank if they do "this" to the car... or how much travel they have in the rear end when they use a certain shock setup ... things like that etc... like a wind tunnel on the computer...... probably something similar to what they use to determine who's going to win in Deadliest Warrior lol
 
All NASCAR teams currently use simulation programs to help determine which setups to bring to the racetrack. But those programs operate with a computer predicting the best line a driver would use to get around the track; engineers make inputs and then get data on how it affects the car.

But Ford's simulator, similar to the ones used by Formula One teams, will provide data generated by the drivers themselves. The simulator is a realistic driver ****pit on a full-motion platform — it tilts, sways, moves forward and backward and goes over bumps — surrounded by a wraparound screen illuminated by five projectors.

The images are so vivid and realistic, and the ****pit so close to an actual race car, that drivers could feel like they're actually on the track.

In demonstrating laps at virtual Charlotte Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International on Wednesday, driver Colin Braun had caught the car as the platform slid, matching the motion on screen.

Meanwhile, a control room behind the simulator will be filled with monitors, engineers and a crew chief — which will help teams try new setups in hopes of hitting on something that might work at the racetrack.

"A simulator is not reality by nature, but we continue to get closer and closer to reality," Team Penske competition director Travis Geisler told USA TODAY Sports. "It's really about improving our batting average when it comes to making changes at the racetrack. If this helps add an extra 10 or 15% to the chances of our changes working, that would be a big step."

Though the simulator looks impressive (no photographs were allowed due to it being proprietary technology), Allison said it won't be fully operational until the end of this year. There are still more tracks to map and more tweaks to be made to the physics engine — and then drivers will have to see if what they experience feels like the real thing or not.

"The next step will be to put Cup drivers in the car and say, 'Is this Charlotte?'" Allison said.

Allison declined to say how much the simulator cost, but predicted the technology would soon become commonplace in NASCAR much like the seven-post shaker rigs did last decade. Only one or two teams had seven-posts to start, but then they all built them in order to keep up with the competition.
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/05/14/ford-racing-simulator-nascar/9092349/

I imagine it's set up similar to this:

 
I would guess they could download actual in race telemetry provided by the on-board computer systems or the NASCAR (black box) data systems. Just a guess but as good as any others.
 
They put sensors on a real car and drive a track measuring the shock travel of each wheel, steering inputs, down force, etc. The data is used by a 7 poster or shaker table to simulate the physical forces on the car for the given track. I'm guessing all of the tracks have been recorded in detail by now (any repaving makes the data obsolete). The data can help engineers set up the chassis/shock package. The data can also be used in computer simulations which may or may not be a video game.

I wonder if NASCAR has control of data acquisition at tracks because it would have to be done during practice (or clandestinely). I would think the data would be required by Goodyear.
 
Zerkfitting said:
They put sensors on a real car and drive a track measuring the shock travel of each wheel, steering inputs, down force, etc. The data is used by a 7 poster or shaker table to simulate the physical forces on the car for the given track. I'm guessing all of the tracks have been recorded in detail by now (any repaving makes the data obsolete). The data can help engineers set up the chassis/shock package. The data can also be used in computer simulations which may or may not be a video game.

I wonder if NASCAR has control of data acquisition at tracks because it would have to be done during practice (or clandestinely). I would think the data would be required by Goodyear.
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So, essentially we are talking the shaker and 7 post? Kind of what I thought.
 
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