So what is it going to take to work on the S650 screens in 2048!

[Bikeman315]

The McLaren F1 supercar can only be serviced with this ancient Compaq laptop

https://www.extremetech.com/cars/22...y-be-serviced-with-this-ancient-compaq-laptop

Sponsored

 

[17Magnetic5.0]

So McLaren can’t figure out how to get a new laptop to work with an older car…

 

[dusman59]

Guess I won't care at 98 years old.

 

[Gregs24]

So McLaren can’t figure out how to get a new laptop to work with an older car…

Far from simple. Getting a PC card and DOS to talk to a modern PC - no chance. Good chance of bricking the car if you get it wrong too. Remember how forgiving DOS was!

 

[17Magnetic5.0]

Far from simple. Getting a PC card and DOS to talk to a modern PC - no chance. Good chance of bricking the car if you get it wrong too. Remember how forgiving DOS was!

What if they just upgraded whatever is in the car?

 

[Bikeman315]

What if they just upgraded whatever is in the car?

Reverse engineering could work but It would ruin a classic, iconic car. Some things you just alone.

 

[Gregs24]

What if they just upgraded whatever is in the car?

Cost. You have also got to get all the various other bits in the car to work with a new ECU. Probably as near as impossible as it could get, all in a car worth $millions. Would be very easy to end up with a static museum piece!

 

[Skye]

If attempting to use a new laptop...

There are a few things they'd have to work through. I'm not doubting they'll come up with a solution. It'll help if they have employees still with them or in contact that could provide deepest insight from the first prototypes.

Physically, they need to have the correct connectors and interfaces. The new laptop would have to have it's firmware, bus and connector programmed to understand and interpret physical signals, packets, etc. from the F1.

Logically, it would take something that can still emulate DOS or whatever OS and firmware the car is running.

IMO, getting the physical interaction to work correctly would be the most difficult task. It's like asking a modern PC to connect and use a 30+ YO thicknet system (one of the first generations of Ethernet).

If attempting a new ECU...

A new ECU, which is either a replacement, piggy-back or something of the sort. It's possible, with a modern laptop connecting to that. The new or conversion ECU is going to have to physically interact with the legacy car, with a possible internal emulation program running there.

I'm sure McLaren is spitballing, mulling about, thinking the best direction forward. A new ECU might be the best route. As well as the cars are maintained, eventually, if not already, an ECU could fail. Having a new unit already available with a modern interface would be welcome.

Long, long-term, I'd imagine any manufacturer or aftermarket company maintaining cars like those (or now ours!) will have to continue to come up with solutions.

 

[Gregs24]

Reverse engineering could work but It would ruin a classic, iconic car. Some things you just alone.

It's very much like F1 cars from the 1990's / Early 2000's with similar archaic laptops required to even run the engine. Williams FW14b - FW15c all had active ride setup from laptops that are very similar. Pretty sure whenever they run them these days (rarely) they run them in passive mode.

 

[Gregs24]

If attempting to use a new laptop...

There are a few things they'd have to work through. I'm not doubting they'll come up with a solution. It'll help if they have employees still with them or in contact that could provide deepest insight.

Physically, they need to have the correct connectors and interfaces. The new laptop would have to have it's firmware, bus and connector programmed to understand and interpret physical signals, packets, etc. from the F1.

Logically, it would take something that can still emulate DOS or whatever OS and firmware the car is running.

IMO, getting the physical interaction to work correctly would be the most difficult task. It's like asking a modern PC to connect and use a 30+ YO thick net system (one of the first generations of Ethernet).

The biggest risk you have is getting just one small bit wrong and then you have a non functioning car if you are not careful. Even simple things like processor speed (too fast) can render software non-functional. Windows 95 will not boot on a CPU faster than 2.1GHz for example, or with too much memory. Remember ISA cards and interrupts - modern stuff just doesn't know where to start with all that. Emulators can sometimes get things working but on a $10m car - I think not!

Considering only 106 were made it would probably be simpler to do as they are and keep a stack of old laptops.

 

[Bikeman315]

Here’s an article from 2016. The year Sync 3 came out.

https://jalopnik.com/this-ancient-laptop-is-the-only-key-to-the-most-valuabl-1773662267

 

[17Magnetic5.0]

I’m sure the Chinese can reverse engineer it in a week

 

[JJZ_109]

Guess I won't care at 98 years old.

lol. Yeah, I’ll be 84. I won’t care either.

 

[roadpilot]

So McLaren can’t figure out how to get a new laptop to work with an older car…

Were they supposed to somehow predict what future technology (that had yet to be invented) would rely upon for communication protocols, connection fittings, etc., 25 years into the future?

 

[Wiley Marmot]

Wow! Maybe I can sell them some of my leftover Windows 95 kit?!

Sponsored