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Mixing Fossil Fuel and Electrons
by Jim Turley, Embedded Technology Journal
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Mixing Fossil Fuel and Electrons
by Jim Turley, Embedded Technology Journal

Zoom-Zoom. Vrooom, vroom. Beep-beep-beep, click, whir, bong. Pop quiz: which is the sound of a car? If you answered, “all of the above,” you’re right. Today’s cars have more computing power then even a high-end PC and more software, too. Yet, paradoxically, racing cars have less technology than before, a victim of competition rules and crass commercial realities.

In fact, racing is surprisingly low-tech. Even the pinnacle of the sport, Formula One Grand Prix racing, bans antilock brakes, traction control, and active suspension – features even a mid-price family sedan would have on its list of options.

If racing improves the breed, why are commonplace electronics banished? Shouldn’t this be where new and innovative electronics are tried and battle-tested? The answer comes down to your view of what motor sports is all about. Is it really about competition, or is it a spectator sport? In other words, do you care about the cars or the TV ratings.

Sadly, we can already predict the answer. Auto racing, like most every other sport, is a commercial enterprise, and as such, its first priority is to secure sponsorship and TV viewing rights. The sportsmanship, and certainly the technology, is secondary to the commercial ends. If it doesn’t improve the show, it generally doesn’t get included in the sport. [more]