In the high adrenaline world of motorsport, the quest for speed, efficiency, and precision is part of the game. At the heart of this pursuit lies the complex and sophisticated realm of control systems – a convergence of mechanical innovation, electronic ingenuity and software sophistication. Today, these systems are integral to the performance, safety and competitiveness of racing vehicles.
The domain of control systems and mechatronics is a broad and highly developed sub-sector in the world of motorsport. From battery controllers to chassis systems, drive-by-wire to hybrid powertrain integration, control systems have become pivotal in defining the capabilities of a modern racecar.
As these systems evolve, they push the boundaries of what is technically possible and re-shape the very nature of racing.
Control systems have evolved to allow very fine, automated control of mechanical components on modern racecars.
They comprise three main components: sensors to measure the physical quantities we want the system to influence; controllers, which run software algorithms and perform the calculations to generate a control output, and actuators, which achieve a desired result.
Control evolution
One of the earliest examples of automotive control systems was electronic fuel injection, which evolved from the trusty mechanical carburettor assembly into the complex port injection systems we have today.
Once, the driver would manually operate a choke valve to make basic adjustments to the air / fuel ratio for different conditions, such as on a cold start where a rich mixture is needed, then leaning it out when the system is up to operating temperature.
By automating this system, the task was not only removed from the driver (providing some great marketing material), but finer, more accurate control was possible.
The result was fuel economy and emissions gains, a smoother running engine and an easier car to drive.
In this simple example, sensors measure things like airflow into the engine, air and water temperatures, exhaust O2, throttle position and engine speed, and feed these into a control unit. There, an adjustment to injector duty is calculated from a look-up-table to alter the duration of injector spray and keep the engine in its optimal region for a given air intake.
Today, we are in an age where sensor sophistication, processing power and mechanical components offer such precision that in a modern combustion engine, dozens of control systems manage operation to maximise efficiency and performance throughout the operating range.
Chassis systems have also benefited from this technology. ABS controls caliper clamping force to maximise deceleration, while traction control ensures wheelspin is controlled at corner exits.
The role of sensors, particularly in the chassis and integrated powertrain systems, has evolved from mere trackside data collection to becoming pivotal in
