Clutchless Ultima?
Discussion
This is just a flight of fancy, but has anyone seroiusly looked at the possibility of using a tiptronic type of box?
Yes! OK!...I can hear the screams of derision from the purests, but after many years of driving both, with my last car being 400 bhp Merc AMG auto, I can say that not having to keep stirring the lever and jamming your foot on the clutch is so much more relaxing, and there is no loss of power or fun!
I now stand back for the flack!
Keith
Yes! OK!...I can hear the screams of derision from the purests, but after many years of driving both, with my last car being 400 bhp Merc AMG auto, I can say that not having to keep stirring the lever and jamming your foot on the clutch is so much more relaxing, and there is no loss of power or fun!
I now stand back for the flack!
Keith
Hi
I know a little about this as I own a little company that designs and develops shifting systems for race bikes, and we have done a bit in the car world as well.....
Anyway, there ARE shifting systems already available. The most successful so far uses compressed air to slam the selector into the next gear with a bit of electronics to initiate a kill for up shifts and a blip for down shifts. These systems cost a fortune and I'd like to inspect the gearbox after use because an uncontrolled slam cannot be good...
I am building an ultima as a demonstrator for my technology.... I make graphic dash boards already and am developing a shifting system similar to our motoGP shifter where you still change gears manually, just no clutch is needed, so changes are super fast and slick and down changes will have a blip to ensure seamless down shifts as well.
The key is that it leaves you in total control and retro fitting is simple.
Other items that I am working on is a electronic fusebox and controller where you simply directly wire up all of the outputs (lights, ecu etc etc) and then all of the inputs (wiper switch, turn, climate control etc etc) and use a PC to tell the controller what should do what. Each output is electronically fused and controllable, so no more fuses or relays and a massively simplified loom, making it much, much more reliable and simple. It will also tell you if lights are not working etc and you can set events, such as when indicator is ON, then flash lights x,y and z at speed A. Or are 85 degC start turning the fan slowly ramping up to full speed at 120deg, or automatically control the fans to maintain a temp of 80 degC when the ROAD switch is on or 100 degC when the ROAD switch is off. etc etc
.....Gareth
I know a little about this as I own a little company that designs and develops shifting systems for race bikes, and we have done a bit in the car world as well.....
Anyway, there ARE shifting systems already available. The most successful so far uses compressed air to slam the selector into the next gear with a bit of electronics to initiate a kill for up shifts and a blip for down shifts. These systems cost a fortune and I'd like to inspect the gearbox after use because an uncontrolled slam cannot be good...
I am building an ultima as a demonstrator for my technology.... I make graphic dash boards already and am developing a shifting system similar to our motoGP shifter where you still change gears manually, just no clutch is needed, so changes are super fast and slick and down changes will have a blip to ensure seamless down shifts as well.
The key is that it leaves you in total control and retro fitting is simple.
Other items that I am working on is a electronic fusebox and controller where you simply directly wire up all of the outputs (lights, ecu etc etc) and then all of the inputs (wiper switch, turn, climate control etc etc) and use a PC to tell the controller what should do what. Each output is electronically fused and controllable, so no more fuses or relays and a massively simplified loom, making it much, much more reliable and simple. It will also tell you if lights are not working etc and you can set events, such as when indicator is ON, then flash lights x,y and z at speed A. Or are 85 degC start turning the fan slowly ramping up to full speed at 120deg, or automatically control the fans to maintain a temp of 80 degC when the ROAD switch is on or 100 degC when the ROAD switch is off. etc etc
.....Gareth
GarethGTR said:
Hi
Other items that I am working on is a electronic fusebox and controller where you simply directly wire up all of the outputs (lights, ecu etc etc) and then all of the inputs (wiper switch, turn, climate control etc etc) and use a PC to tell the controller what should do what. Each output is electronically fused and controllable, so no more fuses or relays and a massively simplified loom, making it much, much more reliable and simple. It will also tell you if lights are not working etc and you can set events, such as when indicator is ON, then flash lights x,y and z at speed A. Or are 85 degC start turning the fan slowly ramping up to full speed at 120deg, or automatically control the fans to maintain a temp of 80 degC when the ROAD switch is on or 100 degC when the ROAD switch is off. etc etc
.....Gareth
Don't want to blow your fuses, but something like this?Other items that I am working on is a electronic fusebox and controller where you simply directly wire up all of the outputs (lights, ecu etc etc) and then all of the inputs (wiper switch, turn, climate control etc etc) and use a PC to tell the controller what should do what. Each output is electronically fused and controllable, so no more fuses or relays and a massively simplified loom, making it much, much more reliable and simple. It will also tell you if lights are not working etc and you can set events, such as when indicator is ON, then flash lights x,y and z at speed A. Or are 85 degC start turning the fan slowly ramping up to full speed at 120deg, or automatically control the fans to maintain a temp of 80 degC when the ROAD switch is on or 100 degC when the ROAD switch is off. etc etc
.....Gareth
http://www.obr.uk.com/obr_electronics.html
Hi
Well, yes most of what I am doing is already available with varying levels of success, how the one common factor is HUGE cost.
I have only a bit of work in the car world (TVR, Aston Martin and a few others I can't name), most of my designs are in the motoGP, WSB, AMA etc etc paddock. I am now moving moving focus to the car world (not least because I am busy building an Ultima :-) )
BTW, one of the special services that I offer certain high level race teams and constructors is stress analysis (real time, not 'models'). I will be doing full stress analysis on the Ultima and will publish the results....
Experience has shown that there are always some 'shockers' ;-)
I am in the design stage and so would welcome an comments of suggestions on the products that I am working on.
BTW, this is not a commercial 'plug' I am developing these products for the love of it and am happy to share the technology with other like minded GTR heads...
Gareth
Well, yes most of what I am doing is already available with varying levels of success, how the one common factor is HUGE cost.
I have only a bit of work in the car world (TVR, Aston Martin and a few others I can't name), most of my designs are in the motoGP, WSB, AMA etc etc paddock. I am now moving moving focus to the car world (not least because I am busy building an Ultima :-) )
BTW, one of the special services that I offer certain high level race teams and constructors is stress analysis (real time, not 'models'). I will be doing full stress analysis on the Ultima and will publish the results....
Experience has shown that there are always some 'shockers' ;-)
I am in the design stage and so would welcome an comments of suggestions on the products that I am working on.
BTW, this is not a commercial 'plug' I am developing these products for the love of it and am happy to share the technology with other like minded GTR heads...
Gareth
GarethGTR said:
Hi
Well, yes most of what I am doing is already available with varying levels of success, how the one common factor is HUGE cost.
I have only a bit of work in the car world (TVR, Aston Martin and a few others I can't name), most of my designs are in the motoGP, WSB, AMA etc etc paddock. I am now moving moving focus to the car world (not least because I am busy building an Ultima :-) )
BTW, one of the special services that I offer certain high level race teams and constructors is stress analysis (real time, not 'models'). I will be doing full stress analysis on the Ultima and will publish the results....
Experience has shown that there are always some 'shockers' ;-)
I am in the design stage and so would welcome an comments of suggestions on the products that I am working on.
BTW, this is not a commercial 'plug' I am developing these products for the love of it and am happy to share the technology with other like minded GTR heads...
Gareth
Sounds very interesting, the big downside of a system like that in your road going car, is imho, if the thing goes bezerk, for whatever reason, nothing electrical works anymore, and you need a laptop on hand to reset.Well, yes most of what I am doing is already available with varying levels of success, how the one common factor is HUGE cost.
I have only a bit of work in the car world (TVR, Aston Martin and a few others I can't name), most of my designs are in the motoGP, WSB, AMA etc etc paddock. I am now moving moving focus to the car world (not least because I am busy building an Ultima :-) )
BTW, one of the special services that I offer certain high level race teams and constructors is stress analysis (real time, not 'models'). I will be doing full stress analysis on the Ultima and will publish the results....
Experience has shown that there are always some 'shockers' ;-)
I am in the design stage and so would welcome an comments of suggestions on the products that I am working on.
BTW, this is not a commercial 'plug' I am developing these products for the love of it and am happy to share the technology with other like minded GTR heads...
Gareth
In "normal" conditions, you can always shortcut a faulty relais, or replace it easy when you're on the road.
Find something for this situation, and you got something for everyday use. And I want one cheap!
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