 Optimum points of braking
hi,
im currently having an argument with someone, hopefully i can resolve it here!
Imagine the following scenario. Take 2 cars, both controlled by robots, travelling at 100mph each. They both have to slow down to 0 in the fastest time possible. One can only use the brakes to slow down (i.e. engage the clutch and keep it engaged until the car comes to rest, so no engine braking is being utilized), and the other robot can use engine braking and go down the gears to come to a halt.
Robots are being used so that the robot could adjust the brake pressure hundreds of times a second, faster than a human.
He is saying this - that in this scenario, the 1st robot would be able to slow the car down as fast, and therefore as effectively, as the second robot.
I'm saying this is completely wrong, and that the second robot would win, and my reason is because of this:
The optimum point of braking ability is the point just before the wheel locks up. This optimum point occurs more frequently changing down the gears, or rather it gives more opportunity for this optimum point to occur, more regularly than if you were to just use the brakes - due to the fact that it will get to a point where, as you begin to slow down and travelling at a slower speed, that optimum point threshold gets higher and higher, to the point where trying to lock the brakes up at a slow speed is unachievable when ONLY using brakes, even at maximum brake pressure. Whereas using engine braking means you can stay still stay in that locking zone, even at slow speed.
who is right? and what is the physics regarding load, and transfer of load/weight/mass etc..etc...
im happy to be told im wrong, and so i'd appreciate an explanation for that also.
thanks  | 
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