[Doubt] How do they measure pit stop times?

[Caito]

Hi guys, does anybody knows how the FIA or whoever is with the TV signal measuring pit stop time?


I guess total time is calculated by measuring the time it takes to the car to go from the pit stop entrance, to the exit.

But what about the tire changing time? It's so little time that there could be quite huge measuring errors. If it's for example from the time the cars reaches 0km/h, to the time it's lowered, there might be errors as teams seem to throw the car while they're adjusting the wheels.


Bye!

[beelsebob]

Hi guys, does anybody knows how the FIA or whoever is with the TV signal measuring pit stop time?


I guess total time is calculated by measuring the time it takes to the car to go from the pit stop entrance, to the exit.

But what about the tire changing time? It's so little time that there could be quite huge measuring errors. If it's for example from the time the cars reaches 0km/h, to the time it's lowered, there might be errors as teams seem to throw the car while they're adjusting the wheels.

It used to be that there were a pair of metal contacts on the ground under the car, as that's no longer the case, I'd guess that they've moved onto something less exposed like an RFID tag in the car and a receiver in the pit box. I would be surprised if they don't use a similar system for detecting jump starts.

[netoperek]

signal from accelerometers could do the job. Both with pitstops and jumpstarts.

[HampusA]

It used to be that there were a pair of metal contacts on the ground under the car, as that's no longer the case, I'd guess that they've moved onto something less exposed like an RFID tag in the car and a receiver in the pit box. I would be surprised if they don't use a similar system for detecting jump starts.

So me it seems they only use their eyes and replay in jumpstarts.

I´m guessing pit stops is from the point where the car stops to when it starts moving again.

[Richard]

We know from the info at Alonso's jump start last year that transponders in the car/track detect jump starts.

I can't believe they measure pit stops by eye, but don't know the answer

I've often wondered about the pit stop as well, what is the start and end of the pit stop? Anyway, the more accurate measure is crossing the pit lane entry and exit lines, that also allows for any delays in the pit lane and getting into/out of the pit box.

[mkeRed]

It used to be that there were a pair of metal contacts on the ground under the car, as that's no longer the case, I'd guess that they've moved onto something less exposed like an RFID tag in the car and a receiver in the pit box. I would be surprised if they don't use a similar system for detecting jump starts.

So me it seems they only use their eyes and replay in jumpstarts.

I´m guessing pit stops is from the point where the car stops to when it starts moving again.

At Spa last year I think it was Massa that missed his grid spot by quite a large distance but it didn't get caught. He later said it was because he was so far off that the sensors under the track didn't detect him as out of place because he was too far away to be detected at all!

So yes, the do use electronics on the grid, just not solely electronics.

[HampusA]

Doesn´t seem to work then. Massa as you said was not apparent until after the race, Alonso they saw right away that he "cheated", there was even video of Whiting pointing at him.

[HampusA]

We know from the info at Alonso's jump start last year that transponders in the car/track detect jump starts.

I can't believe they measure pit stops by eye, but don't know the answer

I've often wondered about the pit stop as well, what is the start and end of the pit stop? Anyway, the more accurate measure is crossing the pit lane entry and exit lines, that also allows for any delays in the pit lane and getting into/out of the pit box.

That might be true, they know how fast it will take an F1 car going at 100km/h from one line to the other so that might be the way they know how long it takes.

I don´t think they do pitstops by eye, probably by a clock but i think your idea is way more plausible.

[netoperek]

with single rfid transponder, used in time measurment (btw. not the best solution for this anyway) it is impossible to measure time spent in pit stops. Traditional RFID range is from 5cm to 1.5m more less, depending on used frequency. So unless there are sensing loops in front and at the end of EVERY pit on pitlane, You cannot measure pit time. The simplest and safest way to measure pit stop time is as I said before - using accelerometers or other inertial or positioning sensor to measure time spent with 0 velocity. I would be surprised if it was measured in any other way - if it is being measured at all, in which case simple substraction of perfect pit drive through from actual time spent in pitlane could be used.

[PlatinumZealot]

No you are not correct. Accelerometer would not give you the location of the car in a proper way. For example Button stopping in the RedBull pitstop did not trigger any pitstop timer.

The easiest way is to do it how they do it in track and field. A simple sensor at one end of the designated pit markers. It can't get any simpler than that.

[Dragonfly]

It used to be that there were a pair of metal contacts on the ground under the car, as that's no longer the case, I'd guess that they've moved onto something less exposed like an RFID tag in the car and a receiver in the pit box. I would be surprised if they don't use a similar system for detecting jump starts.

Those were for grounding the chassis for safety reasons while refueling.

I think that a car motion sensor or a transponder antennae in the designated stop area is more viable.

[raymondu999]

It used to be that there were a pair of metal contacts on the ground under the car, as that's no longer the case, I'd guess that they've moved onto something less exposed like an RFID tag in the car and a receiver in the pit box. I would be surprised if they don't use a similar system for detecting jump starts.[/quote]
I don't buy it. When hamilton had his 15.6s pitstop in Turkey, he left the box before the lollipop was up, then stopped again. The stopwatch was still ticking.

[Richard]

The bulk of his car was still in the box. So a sensor coil in the box would register he was still there.

Common sense is that they use the same transponders that they use for the sector timing and jump starts.

[raymondu999]

Yes, but if you use "bulk is still in the box," then when they "slot in" to their pitboxes, during the "slowing down" phase where they're braking, that would register as well.

[Richard]

Someone will need to watch a few stops with the clock showing to see when the clock is triggered to start and stop.

Watching mistakes such as Hamilton's stop this week, or when a car has stopped short, or over shot the box would also be useful.