"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
04/01/2016 at 11:00 • Filed to: LEGO, FORMULA 1
4
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"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
04/01/2016 at 11:00 • Filed to: LEGO, FORMULA 1 | 4
| 15 |
Protecting the driver’s head is one of F1's biggest challenges, and we’ve seen several ideas emerge on how to do it. But what would they look like? Well, because my brain likes to think in Lego bricks, I’ve made these models with each of the different proposals, from the infamous Halo thing to the full-blown, jet fighter style canopy.
1. Current design
This is what F1 does right now. Although it protects all other area of the body exceptionally well (Alonso’s crash two weeks ago is a good proof of that), asides from raised headrests on the sides it doesn’t do much to protect the head in case of an object flying directly towards the driver’s helmet. Since !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in Hungary 2008, or, more tragically, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and Justin Wilson’s fatal crashes, the FIA has been looking to better protect its drivers, with different solutions being proposed.
2. The “Halo” project
This is the first and only system that we’ve actually seen on a car so far. Reportely, Kimi found it “ mm’kay ”. Which could have a whole range of meanings.
This solution could have saved Justin Wilson and Henry Surtees, who were impacted by large objects (a nosecone and a wheel, respectively). A step in the good direction I guess, but immensely ugly, and ineffective in many situations (for example Massa’s or Bianchi’s accidents).
3. The half canopy
compromise
In response to Ferrari’s demonstration of the Halo system, Red Bull has made public renders of an half closed canopy project. This is essentially a targa-style windshield, which allows for easy extraction of the driver while still looking miles better that the Halo and being more efficient at blocking incoming objects, small or large. Moreover, it would still keep the open-cockpit style in F1, which certain fans still consider very important in these troubled times for the sport.
There have been some voices citing a weaker structural integrity as an obstacle to its implementation, though.
4. The full-blown, fighter-jet-style canopy bubble
This is obviously the most complete solution regarding head protection, and I’m pretty sure F1 will end up looking like that in the future. It looks pretty futuristic as well.
There are hurdles to overcome before then, though. The main concern is that a driver might get traped if the car is upside-down, which, in case of a fire, can be extremely dangerous. Any solution to that problem (and indeed, any way to implement the system at all) will be pretty heavy, and require a deep redesign of the current formula. It isn’t simply the matter of strapping a jet-fighter canopy to a current F1 car.
Then there are the problems of ventilation of the cockpit, and visibility in rainy conditions as well as dust building up on the screen. These are fixable problems (LMP1 does it pretty well), but again, it will add complexity and weight to the cars.
F1 does pack some of the greatest engineers in the world though, so I’m sure they will have this figured out, sooner or later.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/01/2016 at 11:07 |
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Those little models are fantastic. If they were to go with the fully closed canopy, they could probably have it split down the middle. Cameras are small enough that the people complaining about visibility of the driver would be able to get their up close shot.
Shmevans
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/01/2016 at 11:12 |
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Props for doing this in Digital Designer. I tried tinkering with it last week and it was excruciatingly tedious and slow. I don’t know how people have the patience for it. It’s also possible I was doing it wrong and that there are faster ways to scroll through the thousands of bricks.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Shmevans
04/01/2016 at 11:17 |
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Thanks! Well with a bit of practice you get to know where everything is, really. I still have to look hard sometimes, but otherwise it’s pretty painless now!
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
04/01/2016 at 11:32 |
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Thanks!
Yeah I guess they could, but it would be more complexity and weight. But again, these are smart people, they’ll figure something out!
Wheelerguy
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/01/2016 at 12:23 |
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Have you tried on the new update? Loads of new parts, including those from the quite swell Speed Champions line. It’s getting around in some builds.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Wheelerguy
04/01/2016 at 12:30 |
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Yes I did! Some cool parts indeed. Tried them on other builds:
just-a-scratch
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/01/2016 at 13:21 |
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I have to agree that a full canopy is the way of the future. It’s doable. The formula should be allowed to change. Imagine the rancor over the switch to rear engines back in the day. If F1 really wants to be a relevant area to develop new ideas, they need to change with the times. No one else is going, ‘Hey, you know what we should do? Let’s build a wickedly fast racecar that’s open top so the top of the driver’s helmet might be seen at 150 mph.’
Safety is clearly a driving force in the marketplace and other racing series (serieses?). Why not use F1 to advance the technology of driver protection? Advancing technology is a fundamental part of prototype racing, or should be in my opinion.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> just-a-scratch
04/01/2016 at 13:38 |
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Agree on pretty much all of that!
saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/01/2016 at 23:54 |
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That’s like a Peugeot WEC/WRC hybrid.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
04/02/2016 at 01:43 |
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This one is more Peugeot-y:
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saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/03/2016 at 15:08 |
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That’s gorgeous! My favorite Pug! I always mention this when one of these is posted, but I think it looks like a squirrel.
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Clemsie McKenzie
> saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
04/03/2016 at 16:49 |
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I love these as well! As for the squirrel... I hope I can unsee it one day!
Hot Takes Salesman
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/10/2016 at 13:54 |
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One solution for a closed canopy could be pyrotechnic separation- however this could be troublesome when flipped or if the pyrotechnics have an malfunction and/or accidental discharge
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Hot Takes Salesman
> Clemsie McKenzie
04/10/2016 at 13:55 |
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Also what program is this made in?
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Clemsie McKenzie
> Hot Takes Salesman
04/10/2016 at 14:03 |
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I made the models in Lego Digital Designer, and rendered them using BlueRender.