Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 5 |
| Level:
| Certificate (FHEQ level 4) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 at Wiltshire College |
| Assessment:
| CW 50%, OT 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| |
| Description:
| Aims: The aims of this unit are to: * develop competence and confidence in the specifying, fitting, operation, and maintenance of data acquisition, control, telemetry and ICT systems, designed for installation in a competing motorsport vehicle or garage; * explore and demonstrate the strategic value to the team of logged and real-time telemetry data in improving chassis and engine setup; * introduce the implications and effects of technical constraints, including limits imposed by the technical limitations of the chosen hardware system, and any applicable regulations imposed by the relevant governing body (MSA, FIA, FIM, etc); * develop a thorough understanding of a motorsport teams' ICT (Information and Communication Technology) requirements while at a competition event, particularly network requirements and computer specification; * appreciate the effect, on the teams' ICT needs, of the use of an electronic data acquisition, telemetry, radio and on-vehicle control engineering system. Learning Outcomes: On completion of the unit the student should be able to: * make a substantial contribution to the specifying, installing, operation and maintenance and use of a data-logging, control and telemetry system; * assist key team personnel in the conversion of downloaded logged data into useful information on required alterations to engine (ECU) mapping and mechanical chassis setup; * demonstrate the value and application of a real-time telemetry system, including the selection of a system, justifying expenditure and describing its' operation; * understand the basic principles, applications and terms in control engineering, and their uses in an appropriate motorsport control system; * understand the effects of constraints imposed by technical considerations pertaining to the electronic hardware, or the rulebook of the relevant formula's governing body; * perform a system analysis on a teams' ICT use at an event, and hence devise a strategy for meeting the team requirements; * assist in specifying, installation and use of ICT hardware. Skills: During the unit students should gain the following skills: Intellectual: * appreciate the value of the logged data collected by a data acquisition system to the race engineer and team in determining vehicle chassis and engine setup (T, A) * understand the operation, and value to a team, of a real-time telemetry system (T, A) * understand the control engineering principles in PID (proportional integral differential) controller systems (T, A) * confidence and attitude to gather technical information (A) * assess information and develop expensive conclusions (A) * produce, when required, a rationale for decisions required and a justification for all decisions made (A) Professional: * ability to be responsible for the purchase and operation of an expensive, high-profile and important tool (F) * ability to be responsible for specification and operation of a critical fault-intolerant real-time garage ICT system (A) Practical: * be able to evaluate and specify a data-logging system, select a manufacturer and order a system, basing the decision on criteria of software/hardware functionality, budget and expandability (T, A) * be confident in the fitting and operation of a data-logging system within a competing motorsport team (F, A) * understanding of an ECU mapping software package, the effects on the engines' operation of changes to the map, and the ability to compare and contrast ECU map alterations with mechanical chassis alterations (T) * assist the race engineers in the interpretation of logged data (T) * be able to analyse changing circumstances and propose corrective actions, e.g., requests from team personnel for changes to logged parameters, electronic failures or accident damage to any on-vehicle hardware (T, A) * knowledge and attitude required to supervise and troubleshoot a vital team system in the real-time pressurised situation of a motorsport eevent (F) Key: * ability to justify substantial expenditure on an electronics system, on the grounds of functionality and application, using written and verbal presentation to team principals (T, A) * ability to assess requirements and specify equipment to fulfil those requirements (T, A) * install and run the specified system, checking that it continues to fulfil requirements in the light of changes to garage and vehicle systems (T, A) Content: This unit concentrates on: * Motorsport Data Acquisition systems: suppliers, analysis of technical differences and similarities between available products, common sensors used (operation, applications, suppliers), interfaces and interaction with other vehicle systems, applications for a data-logger in a motorsport team; * Control Engineering Systems: Control Theory, applications of Control Theory in an appropriate electronic vehicle system, proportional integral differentiation control theory and its application to electronic control of car systems, interfacing electronic control systems with electronic, hydraulic and mechanical vehicle systems; * real-time telemetry systems: analysis and comparison of different systems (microwave burst and real-time radio), applications and technical operation of each, bandwidth constraints and on-board channel selection; * ICT system analysis, specification, installation and use in a motorsport garage/workshop, and revision of ICT strategy if required in the light of other electronic hardware changes; * designing a network topology which is fault-tolerant, justifiable and easily transportable between events * interaction between garage ICT hardware and other systems, e.g., team personnel radio, real-time telemetry systems; * the importance of the on-car data acquisition and control systems in the specification of the garage ICT network, particularly storage of downloaded data and uploaded control parameter datasets. |
| Programme availability: |
AS10260 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Learning Partnerships
|