Formula Student - rules on intercoms?
Discussion
Hi all,
After much perusal of the FSAE rulebook, I cannot find any mention of intercoms. We are looking at having a bluetooth intercom system in our car, to be worn inside the drivers suit. However, we are unsure as to whether you are allowed to have loose items inside your suit - especially plastic things that melt, given the fact that nylon underwear is banned in the rules.
Can anyone please advise?
Thanks!
After much perusal of the FSAE rulebook, I cannot find any mention of intercoms. We are looking at having a bluetooth intercom system in our car, to be worn inside the drivers suit. However, we are unsure as to whether you are allowed to have loose items inside your suit - especially plastic things that melt, given the fact that nylon underwear is banned in the rules.
Can anyone please advise?
Thanks!
From someone who's marshalled FS on a few occasions (missing it this year because of officiating commitments 
), I would say that you should worry more about the car than comms with the driver. 
I've not seen any of the cars - top teams or otherwise - running pit to car comms before and bearing in mind that Bluetooth is very much a Personal Area Network standard you'll struggle with the range! The best way of course it to ask IMechE directly as they set the rules, and I'm sure they'll be more than willing to provide an answer.
Finally, good luck! Enjoy the event, it's a fantastic experience and some of the technology on display is fascinating!
), I would say that you should worry more about the car than comms with the driver. I've not seen any of the cars - top teams or otherwise - running pit to car comms before and bearing in mind that Bluetooth is very much a Personal Area Network standard you'll struggle with the range! The best way of course it to ask IMechE directly as they set the rules, and I'm sure they'll be more than willing to provide an answer.Finally, good luck! Enjoy the event, it's a fantastic experience and some of the technology on display is fascinating!
If you run under MSA circuit racing regulations then paragraph 10 might be of interest here:
https://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/blue...
Otherwise a quick flick through the technical regs makes no mention of radio comms except that it doesn't need to be included in a cost report, which I'd say implicitly allows it!
As Pablo mentions though, whether it's worthwhile or practical using Bluetooth is another issue!
Also FWIW the MSA get shirty about you having anything on you except underwear and fireproofs for racing. At a club endurance event I was told off for carrying a mobile and recently I avoided a telling off for having a phone on me when in fact I was using a kind marshal's phone!
https://www.msauk.org/uploadedfiles/msa_forms/blue...
Otherwise a quick flick through the technical regs makes no mention of radio comms except that it doesn't need to be included in a cost report, which I'd say implicitly allows it!
As Pablo mentions though, whether it's worthwhile or practical using Bluetooth is another issue!
Also FWIW the MSA get shirty about you having anything on you except underwear and fireproofs for racing. At a club endurance event I was told off for carrying a mobile and recently I avoided a telling off for having a phone on me when in fact I was using a kind marshal's phone!
Edited by The Wookie on Tuesday 1st July 16:42
If you have a log-in to the IMechE's Formula Student website you can ask questions on rules and regulations here: http://teams.formulastudent.com/faq/FAQ.aspx
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