Visit the National Instruments web site

Fibre optic system aids motor sports

A MCT product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 9, 2007

MCT's MEG 801 is based on a central unit that houses a number of small optical receivers, as well as a main microprocessor, constructed using low mass, surface-mounted components.

Menard Competition Technologies (MCT) has released the MEG 801 fibre optic data acquisition system.

Robust, light and versatile, the unit was initially designed by Menard designers in the United States for use on its in-house race car programmes.

Other motorsport organisations sought to adopt the system.

The system is based on a central unit that houses a number of small optical receivers, as well as a main microprocessor - referred to as the "logger"- constructed using low mass, surface-mounted components.

Satellite A/D convertor units, which are connected to vehicle sensors, transmit signals back to the logger via extremely light plastic fibre optic cables, instead of the more prevalent - and heavier - bundles of copper wire.

Across the extreme environment of motorsport, the system holds a number of key advantages.

With one of the fundamental drivers of motorsport engineering being weight minimisation, the unit will save at least 4kg in a typical rear-engined single seater.

The equipment is also extremely simple to take on or off, with no harness issues.

The product is also suitable for other harsh environments where data acquisition is vital, including aerospace, marine and other advanced engineering applications.

Not what you're looking for? Search the site.

Back to top Back to top

Google Ads

 

Contact MCT

Related Stories

Contact MCT
Newsletter sign up

Request your free weekly copy of the Engineeringtalk email newsletter ...

Visit the National Instruments web site

Articles by product category

All suppliers A - Z

A Pro-talk Publication

A Pro-talk publication