A bug has already been found in the new ECU

Honda has discovered a bug in the software of the MECU. When three buttons on the steering wheel are pushed in a certain sequence the mapping of the MECU is altered to a very aggresive mode which would make up for the ban of launch control and thus allowes very fast starts to be made. Whether or not McLaren knows about this (not unlikely) and whether there are more of these bugs is unknown. The FIA is said to start an investigation. Trulli seems to have been right.

Meanwhile Ferrari, like the others teams continue to collect data about the MECU to 'personalize' the system. They use two parallel systems: the MECU and the Magneti Marelli (that's why they're still a supplier/sponsor) they've had till last year. Using both systems allowes the teams to make comparisons and to optimalize the standard unit (of which the final version should be ready at the beginning of March) to the personal demands.

 

I can't believe something that Microsoft helped develop has bugs! It's unthinkable!!

 

Are there any other websites confirming this? This doesn't seem like a bug if you can remap the ECU by pressing three specific buttons. I don't see why the FIA allowed the new ECU to be made by one of the teams anyways whether it's McLaren or not it should have been done by an independent entity who isn't in the fight for the championship.

 

Your logic, is, too logical. This might be the question of 2008.

 

If true this could be the death knell for Mclaren.
No-one will ever trust them again.

 

well, it's done by Microsoft....what do u expect?

 

I hope this turns out as a joke - a bug would be some kind of sputtering of the engine and general malfunction, not an aggressive mode including some kind launch-control. That isn't a "bug", it has to be carefully programmed and tested. I sincerely hope it isn't true, otherwise MCL has to be banned from F1 altogether. I suppose Microsoft doesn't have anything to do with it, why should they? McLaren on the other hand has much to gain... and much to lose...

 

Not a 'bug', it's an easter egg. Does this REALLY surprise anyone?

 

Florian, I was waiting for your thought's on this as I know you do work in this area.
I'am thinking it is a short cut or something that the developers were or were not aware of, if they were they could alway's deny knowledge. Has Honda just stumbled across it as a glitch or is it a sneaky built in function that the chosen ones will know about.

It does beg the question why on earth the FIA has let Mclaren have anything to do with it. Lets face it it's not hard to blind Max with science.

and this is before we start racing......Sigh

 

Its unbelievable that anyone trusts them now. If this is true then this is not a bug but a purposely built in back door to be used by only teams that have some kind of in. On the other hand it could just be something used in testing the new mcu. But then again it could be the back door that microsoft wanted somebody to find while the real back door can only be found by the "in team". Anyway more interesting developments.

 

The problem is: A launch control, traction control or similar systems aren't just programmed for fun. They are freaking complicated, and if you don't have to have them, you just leave them alone and concentrate your manpower on something else. Which leaves several possibilites, each leading to questions:

a) It is a real bug and the "aggressive mapping, launch control" is nonsense. Let's hope for that.

b) MCL programmed it for testing purpose. Question: WHY? Why do you let a couple of highly paid specialists do work which is absoluteley useless? The only thing they could use it for is to show that the new ECU is capable of such stuff. Would be the same if the aero department was given the task to build wings for the car to fly, just for fun.

c) MS programmed it for testing purpose. We all know the stories of the guys at Google having 20% or so of their time to spend on their own projects. Geeks not being different in whichever company they may work, I could imagine that someone of the MS crew said "let's do something cool. let's do a launch control" and some nerds spent their nights hacking it together. But the experience of MS in the field of engine control technology should be around zero.

d) MCL didn't have to program it from scratch but could do some sort of "copy&paste" from their old ECU with a bit of tweaking here and there . This would mean that the new ECU is basically identical to the old one, leading to the question: Why are MCL allowed to keep their technology while all other teams have to drop theirs? Why is MS in the boat? Highly unlikely.

e) MCL tried to cheat - again. Funny how we talked about the topic some weeks ago, saying that pressing a certain combination of buttons could switch the ECU in a different mode, and now that. And as you say, Steve, racing hasn't even started...


Edit: Always assuming that the story isn't a hoax, I highly doubt that Microsoft has anything to do with cheating. Although I still don't know what they expect to win with their efforts in F1, they have much more to lose than MCL, even if the lights went out in Woking.

 

Not a bug, just another cheat code.

3x yellow button, 2x red, 2x blue and 1 green gives you infinite fuel.

Didn't they read the XBox360 cheat codes and strategy guides before testing.

 

Designed by McLaren (McLaren Technologies I think) and branded by Microsoft.

 

Just curious...Why are there commas there?

 

I think he is mimicking Spock.

 

Aha. Now I see.

 

So has anyone found the radio signal that lets Bernie/Max slow down a car to keep the championship "entertaining"?

... waitaminnit: the Vulcan nerve pinch? (Ctl-Alt-Del)??? You've got to be kidding.

 

OK, got the red. Just need a blue, yellow and green button for my car then!

 

Remember Hamilton last year in Brazil? I bet he was hitting three buttons... CTRL, ALT & DEL.
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That's funny ! Blue Screen of Death :0

 

I really have to jump on McLaren's back right away and accuse them of cheating again. I'd like to give them the benefit of the doubt, but if the situation is like YB says and you can just press a few buttons to enter launch control mode, there's not many conclusions to be drawn from that.

 

LOL

I'm not good at Photoshop, but I'm sure you get the idea:
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Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start

 

I cant believe Mclaren could be so stupid again, I cant find much on the web to support this other than some Italian mag Autosprint

And if Honda found it they should have kept it to themselves, afterall they certainly need it..

Joking apart ,if Mc are real quick out the blocks now , I can see a repeat of last year problems it seems a no win situ for them now.

Again I blame Max, cocked up again why did he let Mclaren tender for it.

 

So which will be the first team to install Linux?
(Already been to Indy )
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