Brake by wire...

[Northernchimp]

Doesn't work when your car is on fire and the wires have melted. You have to stop within a few seconds or risk your brakes failing. Must be reassuring when throwing these things around sharp bends at 150 mph. I think drive by wire is crazy on brakes, it's an accident waiting to happen.

[RemarkLima]

It's only on the rears, and you'll be able to stop with just the fronts... Hamilton said that he'd had a problem with his brakes first, then switched engine mode, then had the fire.

No different to a brake line rupturing in a fire.

[mattikake]

Break by wire?

[BevR]

mattikake said:

Break by wire?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake-by-wire

No physical connection between the pedal and rear brakes, which are also much smaller this year due to the energy recovery systems (hence some drivers complaining over a lack of brake feel).


Edit: Woooooosh!

Edited by BevR on Tuesday 29th July 15:41

[audi321]

mattikake said:

Break by wire?

Brake not break

[rallycross]

Technology gone too far.
Why not just remove the driver all together and have remote control F1 cars driven by fat team managers on the pit wall?

[warmfuzzies]

audi321 said:

Brake not break

I feel a whoosh parrot coming on....

[Jasandjules]

Many planes are fly by wire. It is not really new tech.

[Walford]

Jasandjules said:

Many planes are fly by wire. It is not really new tech.

Ye and on auto pilot, so the captain can sit there reading a book, its not a sport, is that what the fans want to pay to watch, the latest tech?

[gaz1234]

electronic, not cable?

[tank slapper]

Walford said:

Ye and on auto pilot, so the captain can sit there reading a book, its not a sport, is that what the fans want to pay to watch, the latest tech?

The brake by wire system is there in order to balance the braking effect of the rear brakes and the MGU-K when it is harvesting energy. Without it, you would have wildly fluctuating rear brake force and that would make the car very unpredictable - not what you want when trying to stop from 200mph.

As far as the driver is concerned, the brake by wire is transparent. He presses the brake pedal to stop, and the system sorts out how much pressure is applied to the rear brakes. He still has to apply the appropriate pedal pressure to prevent locking up, and adjust the front-rear bias as in a purely hydraulic system.