Electronic Marshalling System - by Flood1

The electronic marshalling system has been used since the first night race at Singapore in 2008. But few of us have seen pics of the hardware involved. The system, controlled by the lead flag marshal at each turn, does not replace the flags, but augments them. The local lights are controlled by the station marshals, not the FIA race command. This is how it should be.

The award winning system (Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards), designed and built by EM Motorsports, improves flagging by providing on-track lights that display the same info as the flag marshals. The advantage is that the lights are positioned in such a way that a driver cannot claim ignorance of the track status due to "problems" seeing the manual flags.

The manual flags are still displayed, just as they always have, but the lights provide another source of flagging information. The Marshal's hand-held display also shows the flagging status at the turns before and after the flag Marshal's station. Other course-wide info, controlled by central command, is displayed on the Marshal's controller as well. This includes data such as safety car deployment, full course yellows, and red flag conditions.

The console also includes radio communications with central race command.

Some Marshals that I know do not like the system as it represents the trend toward electronic control of marshalling duties. I understand their concerns. But as long as the responsibility of pushing the buttons and initiating a flagged response is left in the control of a lead station Marshal, I am okay with the technology.

What do you think?
 

Comments

[sportsman]

I think itš high time that such a system was introduced.The benefits are clear to see.Irrespective of their line of sight all of the marshalls can clearly see the flag signals being shown at all flag posts.
This has to be a benefit.There can be no misunderstandings between race control and each flag post,as race control can monitor each flag position.And it must surely be quicker than the flag marshal needing to radio race control with a report of any incident within their particular area of control.

[KM-TV]

My thoughts : http://wheelnuts.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=27893&view=findpost&p=56879

Sportsman - I don't have to ask any authority to put out a flag except the red flag. Neither can I report the specifics of an incident with a simple push of a button on a light control panel.

[sportsman]

I fully realise that you not need any authority to show flags.If you read the article fully it clearly states that the light system is IN ADDITION to flags.
But race control can see instantly by monitoring your light signals that there is an incident which then alerts them for further possible action.
You then radio in the actual incident prompting the flag/light so I fail to see your point.The lights do not replace flags at all.

[KM-TV]

I see them more as a pointless addition. They don't save any time at all with a 3 man crew which is typical at a grand prix. Like I said on the forum, a clubby when you're the only guy on the post, these lights would be great as a last resort measure.

if the Flag points are in the right place then you can easily see the flags on the post before and after yours, and the drivers should be able to see it - that's where the skill comes into it. I've got to know where the drivers are looking to know when to put the flag out - any delay between hitting the blue flag button and that opportunity is lost.

And these lights are radio controlled too - what happens if they pick up a stray transmission? Red lights suddenly appearing with no red flags would cause lots of confusion - and what happens if all the drivers are looking over their shoulders for a faster car overtaking that isn't there? Or worse, disregards the lights completely and start to ignore the flags at the same time assuming human error...

But the thing which I really don't like the idea of is the dashboard system... Yellow light turns up on dashboard - I don't want a driver looking at his dash, I want him looking at the track ahead! If his dashboard lights fail, will he bother to look for flags and lights again? And worst case, what if Race Control decide to turn off my light? Will the drivers continue to take note of my flag, or just go on what they see on the lights and dashboard?

There are too many "what if?" questions for this new system - I think it's a bit too complicated with the dashboard system. Remove that and you have something that could be useful in the right circumstances. F1 is usually so well manned and the flag so well placed that I can't see why adding a light is any advantage.

[flood1]

I cannot in any way see why having an additional display of the current track conditions a bad development. The original need to support a night race became a mandate after driver comments were entertained. The driver consensus was that the lights would be helpful under all lighting conditions.

The lights displayed on the driver's steering wheel are about an inch below their sightlines. It is in their peripheral vision and does not require them to look around. I think that the point made about cockpit distraction is flawed.

[sportsman]

The console also includes radio communications with central race command
Copied from the article.

Just where in the article does it state that there will be lights on the cars dashboard.
The system uses on track lights as in the photograph.
And I cannot see where I said that you need authority from race control to deploy any flag.

[KM-TV]

"it must surely be quicker than the flag marshal needing to radio race control with a report of any incident within their particular area of control."

Which implies that a flag marshal needs to radio race control with a report before deploying the flag. In any case, a full radio report will still need to be sent, so it is no quicker.

As for the dashboard lights - I draw your attention to the features of the system as listed on the following link

http://www.emmotorsport.com/products.html

[Romanov]

This was in place way before singapore mate.

[flood1]

Hello Romanov, when was the system first used? I would appreciate any info you have, and I will correct the original blog and credit you with the find.

Thanks,

Flood

[Belstaff Coats]

I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.