Feature Articles
Chitchat with Dieter Gundel...[cont'd]
Chitchat with Dieter Gundel...[cont'd]
HWZ: Do you think you have a computing power advantage over other F1 teams by being linked to Ferrari factory at Maranello, Italy?
Dieter Gundel: I wouldn't know whether it is an advantage we have over other teams, but I do know that it gives us the ability to push on a little bit more than previously possible. Of course we hope that we have an advantage over other teams!
HWZ: How much simulation do you do per track? In other words, specializing the design of the car for each track that you run on?
Dieter Gundel: It's very specialized, much more than you could imagine. We have virtually an unlimited number of aerodynamic configurations that we can approach. Per season, we are required to setup the cars such that they are specialized for different purposes such as high speed, lower drag circuits, lower speeds, monocle circuits, intermediate speed and high braking. Simulation allows us to select the best one or two design settings out of a thousand and we trust the performance numbers recommended, but the work doesn't just end there. We have to fine tune and verify those design options narrowed down via simulation to make sure that they are what we expected them to be.
HWZ: Is it possible that the wrong configuration be recommended by simulation?
Dieter Gundel: Sometimes you are at the edge here because of variables. Take Canada as an example, they have resurfaced the entire circuit and that presents new unknowns for us. In such instances, simulation results could be wrong.
HWZ: Are you running 32-bit or 64-bit applications?
Dieter Gundel: All the applications we write are based on 64-bit programming already.
HWZ: What advantages do you see 64-bit systems have over 32-bit systems?
Dieter Gundel: For me, we are constantly shifting around a lot of data. The immediate benefit of 64-bit systems is the larger memory it allows us to command and use for our number crunching applications. I also think the performance of a CPU is another important factor.
HWZ: How much do the drivers know of your IT systems? Are they aware of the role they play?
Dieter Gundel: I think they know a lot about the IT systems just as much as they are with the results. The electronics that matter to them more are probably the embedded ease of use of the various electronics in the car. These are the traction control, engine brakes, differential control, shift strategies and etc. Because they are faced with these components on a daily basis, they know a lot about how to handle all these hardware and how to interpret the data to provide us with feedback necessary for us to improve the car.