Expulsion systems in F1

[Javert]

I want to clarify this is a dummy idea

But an expulsion system for the driver, which can be activated when the car is off the track, and throw the seat and the legs up is a doable thing?

Or instead is fully impossible and stupid?

[Moose]

I want to clarify this is a dummy idea

But an expulsion system for the driver, which can be activated when the car is off the track, and throw the seat and the legs up is a doable thing?

Or instead is fully impossible and stupid?

It's something that would be completely possible... but it's exactly the opposite of what you want to do in a crash. Adding energy to the situation, and throwing the driver up high, and potentially towards crowds.

[Writinglife]

no, not feasible at all. The driver position would make this impossible. Fighter ejector seats work (after a fashion as they're NOT fun) because the pilot is sat upright. His legs are already in a reasonable position for the ejection to work.

Plus how do you determine what point the ejection takes place? Who detmines it? driver? pit crew? FIA? Authomatically once it leaves the track?

[adrianjordan]

Authomatically once it leaves the track?

That would solve the problem of drivers puttinf all 4 wheels off the track to gain an advantage...

[void]

A drag chute makes more sense.

[avatar]

A drag chute makes more sense.

Not so much for the guy folowing! (or in cross-winds, or near barriers/snags)

But for ejection, even if you blew away panels & cockpit surrounds, perfected the rotation to get the legs out, how would you control angle of release at speed, possibly with broken tyres/suspension, curbs/bumps etc.

Would probably leave a very small window of operation, given the short time from the start of an incident to impact (much less time/space than a fighter jet, typically).

Add to that the proximity of grandstands, buildings, crash fences, bridges/monaco tunnel (!) and the momentum the drive has means they might well hit something without safety-cell = v.bad + not sure they'd get the height for a chute to open to slow the decent + not sure how much explosive is needed!

[J.A.W.]

There are zero-zero aircraft e-seats ( functional at zero altitude & zero speed) but they are heavy, violent devices..

It is, clearly, a matter of reducing the chances of a massive G force impact happening, such as just happened..

What about a electromagnetic grid run-off zone, that arrests an off-track car in a controlled stop?

Or an auto trigger-able resilient pop-up barrier - such as used for naval aircraft carrier landing mis-haps..

[Lycoming]

Not to mention, ejection seats aren't exactly the safest safety implement ever created.

[J.A.W.]

Safer than crashing a jet-fighter, except maybe the F-104 "widow-maker" - which originally had a downward firing(!) E-S..

[xpensive]

Why not eject the entire car, automatically xcited by deceleration or whatever, vertical thrusters shooting the car some 100 meters up in the air, than safely descending in a parachute on the side of the track? MrE would love it, spicing up the show like that?

[Javert]

But for ejection, even if you blew away panels & cockpit surrounds, perfected the rotation to get the legs out, how would you control angle of release at speed, possibly with broken tyres/suspension, curbs/bumps etc.

Would probably leave a very small window of operation, given the short time from the start of an incident to impact (much less time/space than a fighter jet, typically).

Add to that the proximity of grandstands, buildings, crash fences, bridges/monaco tunnel (!) and the momentum the drive has means they might well hit something without safety-cell = v.bad + not sure they'd get the height for a chute to open to slow the decent + not sure how much explosive is needed!

Ok these are sound reasons why expulsion systems aren't OK for F1 thanks

[J.A.W.]

Why not eject the entire car, automatically xcited by deceleration or whatever, vertical thrusters shooting the car some 100 meters up in the air, than safely descending in a parachute on the side of the track? MrE would love it, spicing up the show like that?

Do you mean "Mr X"? ..
..Now, if you are suggesting an effective F1 ejection system for him.. ..sure, that'd be a remarkable spectacle..

[Andres125sx]

Authomatically once it leaves the track?

That would solve the problem of drivers puttinf all 4 wheels off the track to gain an advantage...

Period!