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2006 Development

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                January 2006

1. Exhibit at Autosport Engineering Trade Show in Birmingham, England. Jan 12-13.

2. Improve Ackerman steering analysis.

3. Improve description of force computations. See Compute: Force computations

4. Improve force computations for Bell Crank / Pivot Rod suspensions.

         February 2006

1. Improve DaTaS / Racesim processing

2. Add Reports: Points: User Co-ordinates

3. Add Reports: Solved: User Co-ordinates

         March 2006


1. Work on Ackerman and Kingpin analysis.

        April 2006


1. Table menu gets Multi-file command to replicate Data Display graph.

2. Improve T-Bar graphics and analysis.

3. Add Point description to GEM Format points see GEM file Points

4. Change Ackermann calculation. See Ackermann Analysis form

        May 2006 - Release version 4.01

1. Introduce version 4.01 with revised Ackermann calculations. The calculations better reflect a percentage of classic Ackermann. The calculation based on steering arm angle is removed. See Ackermann Analysis form

2. Formula SAE East competition in Auburn Hills, Michigan. May 17-20.

3. Write Race Car Engineering story on Formula SAE East

        June 2006

1. Formula SAE West competition in Fontana, California, June 15-17

2. Write Race Car Enginering story of Formula SAE West

        July 2006

1. Improve running speed of external solver calculations, such as Sheering and Shock.

2. Data box permits control of Ride and Roll with the mouse.

3. Improve Solid-Model graphics of Uprights with an axle.

4. Improve Solid-Model graphics of A-Arms with an attachment base with a different color.

5. Solid-Model graphics can now show only the left or the right side. This is very useful for side views when showing both sides confuse the display.

6. Correct bug in solid-model graphics of MacPherson Multi-Link suspensions. The calculations were correct but the graphics did not properly display chassis movement.

        August 2006

1. Correct bug in No-Lateral Link solid-axle suspensions.

2. Work on Roll Center explanation program.

        September 2006

1. Add Compute: Mouse control capability

2. Add Roll Center explanation to the Analysis menu.

        October 2006

1. Update References in the Help file.

2. Separate Further Readings by author.

3. SCCA Runoffs at Heartland Park in Topeka. October 9-15, 2006

4. Mark Hansen of Vehicle DynamiX suggests Front Halfshaft analysis for four-wheel drive and front-wheel drive vehicles. This considers the location of the halfshaft relative to the steer axis or kingpin axis. This is a major consideration in high-horsepower (800 hp) four-wheel drive vehicles with lots of suspension travel for off-road racing.

5. The original Halfshaft Analysis routine gets a graphic scale factor.

6. Add Design: Halfshaft to place the outboard end of the halfshaft on the sheel axis. See Design: Halfshaft and Wheel Axis

        November 2006

1. Add Steering Tierod Analysis which aims the tierod at the instant center to minimize bump steer. It also makes it easy to adjust the length to minimize second-order bump steer. See Analysis: Steering Tierod and Bump Steer
and Steering Tierod

2. WinGeo3 gets Asymmetry Alert. See Utility: Asymmetry Alert

3. WinGeo3 gets Compute: Path Analysis: Cancel and Compute: Map Analysis: CANCEL to stop multi-position analysis. This is very important when the file generates error messages.

4. Analysis Ackermann (see Analysis: Ackermann ) gets geometric construction for Enhanced Jeantaud diagram.

5. Release the WinSteer / Jeantaud teaching program.

        December 2006 - Release version 4.02

1. Introduce version 4.02 with Roll Center explanation. This explanation is based on my SAE paper presented at the SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference. It clearly explains the proper use of roll centers. See Analysis: Explain Roll Center

2. SAE Motorsports Engineering Conference in Dearborn, Michigan, Dec, 5-7.

3. Present SAE 2006-01-3617 paper Force-Based Roll Centers and an Improved Kinematic Roll Center.

4. Present SAE 2006-01-3638 paper Analysis of Ackermann Steering Geometry.

5. Exhibit at PRI Trade Show in Orlando, Florida. Dec 14-16.

6. Add Plunge to results vector for viewing in GAP.

7. Add ability to connect Spring to the lower link of a solid rearaxle suspension.

8. Improve the Analysis: Solid Rearaxle report with more information. See Analysis: Solid Rear-Axle