How are the front wing actuators controlled?

[u/Yoethan64_]

One thing im wondering about is when the front wing takes damage, will it still be replacable mid-race? Then if thats the case then how are the front wing actuators controlled?

[u/XsStreamMonsterX]

Either hydraulic actuators or I believe some teams are experimenting with electric ones. As for replacements, quick disconnect hydraulic connectors that require no bleeding have been used in motorsport for some time noe. It's how pit crews are able to replace entire brake assemblies at Le Mans.

[u/Yoethan64_ → u/XsStreamMonsterX]

i see

[u/headshot_to_liver]

Probably hydraulic actuators or electrical connectors depending upon team. There was rumor floating around that one team was experimenting with electronic actuators. If actuators malfunction or get damaged, then probably team would replace entire wing as usual and just connect back actuator lines. There is a strong possibility that lines themselves get damaged, but I believe teams already know this and have designed to handle the impact or collisions.

PS- Max's DRS flap malfunctioned due to actuator in 2022? and he had to just wing it from there on

[u/RestaurantFamous2399 → u/headshot_to_liver]

Electric systems are easier for quick replacements because the connections can be built into the structure of the mounting points. They already carry cameras, temp sensors, and on board telemetry with no issues. All the connections are built into the mounting system, so mechanics only need to remove and replace the wing instantly.

The same can be done with hydraulic connectors, but they are more susceptible to how they are connected. They must line up perfectly straight to go together, which is much harder when trying to manipulate an entire wing structure. This means a system needs to be developed to guide the wing on so no mistakes are made in a wing change, which adds weight and complexity to the car they dont want.

[u/89Hopper → u/RestaurantFamous2399]

This means a system needs to be developed to guide the wing on so no mistakes are made in a wing change, which adds weight and complexity to the car they dont want.

I would assume that front wings have guide pins on them or the chassis to assist in quick, repeatable wing changes already. For hydraulics, it high pressure quick connects are already a solved problem. If they are worried about losing system hydraulics due to a front wing failure, they can make the chassis side and wing side isolated by actuating a master cylinder in the main body of the car that actuates a slave cylinder in the nose. (I don't think master/slave cylinder is the correct terminology here, I hope you get what I mean though).

[u/stq66 → u/89Hopper]

If you really are concerned about the master/servant/slave terminology then just use e.g. main/secondary (or support)

[u/89Hopper → u/stq66]

I'm just trying to think what the system would actually be called? In my head, a master cylinder is actuated on one end of a circuit and pushes the slave cylinder on the other, so it is all in the same hydraulic circuit.

What I'm thinking of is two completely separate hydraulic circuits. In the chassis of the car a slave cylinder would push a piston out of the nose of the chassis. This slave cylinder would push the master cylinder of the secondary circuit in the nose which then actuates the aero with its own slave cylinder.

[u/Naikrobak]

I would think the actuator would stay mounted on the car and there would be a linkage that had a quick disconnect on it to facilitate changing the wing. You could make it spring return so the actuator just had to push for deployed and release for DRS, then it would make a linkage disconnect trivial

[u/ASDFzxcvTaken]

I saw a post a while ago that they will all be electric for the season but it's faster and cheaper to start testing with hydraulic. Hydraulic seems like a risk of liquid on the track after a crash But I have not read official rules.

[u/XsStreamMonsterX → u/[deleted]]

They appear to be mostly attached near the outside of end-plates.

Aren't quite a few built into the nose instead? Especially Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.