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Jaguar F1 - Virtual Reality Design |
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| Thu, July 17 2003 | 2:09PM | PermaLink |
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In the run-up to the British Grand Prix, the Jaguar Formula 1 team today unveil how 'state of the art' virtual reality mannequins of their drivers Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia are helping shape the cars of next season - the first time technology of this advanced nature has been used to shape Formula One cars as opposed to road cars.
With Jaguar Racing now sitting in 6th place in the FIA Formula One Constructor's Championship (one point behind BAR-Honda), the company have taken on board a human modelling and simulation software solution currently being used by Jaguar Cars. The advanced simulating system called 'JACK' will take an exact reading of Mark and Antonio's body from their height, to the length of their arms, the width of their legs and the reach of their finger-tips. The virtual-reality F1 drivers can then be sat inside a digital cock-pit while still in preliminary design stage.
Jaguar's designers can then evaluate whether the seat, steering wheel, arm rest and gears are in the best location for him. They can then improve the interior so that Mark and Antonio have the best possible positioning and posture to operate the race car - the gears change is just a touch, the steering wheel positioning is perfect and the accelerator is an extension of their foot. Blind spots will be reduced by determining what they can and cannot see without the drivers even being there. Such assessments will find the most comfortable position for the driver, which will improve his performance, reduce fatigue and give him the edge in a sport where a 1/10th second is an advantage. The objective is to make the driver and car 'one'.
The Occupant Packaging Toolkit of 'JACK' will also allow an accurate assessment of Mark and Antonio's 'driver's view-point'. They can then easily discover what the tyres, body wing panels and mirrors are obstructing. All without building a car first.
JACK is also being used in the design of the engine, so the 'all-important' access and reach by the mechanics in the pit-stop can be evaluated first in a digital environment, enabling the fastest repairs possible on the Grand Prix circuit. New mechanics can also be trained on 'JACK' simulations too, enabling them a pure understanding of the car before their feet hit the tarmac.
JACK will also enable Jaguar Racing to make early checks on the design of the whole car in virtual-reality, saving a considerable amount of money on costly mock-ups or prototypes and allowing them to plough the money into other essential areas.
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