Research Pathway (Robin/Skylar)

Mercedes AMG W05 Power Unit (PU106A Hybrid)

1. Firstly, Skylar and I agreed to choose a sector in automotive engineering that pushes the advances of technology to its limits. Formula One is an open-wheel, single-seater formula race cars and the highest league category in motorsports. With over 73 years of research and development, Formula One established itself to be the most advanced motorsports up to date (What is Formula 1).
2. To narrow down on to the device system that we would like to focus on, we broke it down into different sections and did some web browsing on what significant event/changes, year, team, and a specific device system that would suit our interest. The diagram below was our thinking process.  
3. Skylar, we decided to do our reader response analysis assignment on the Mercedes AMG W05 Hybrid Power Unit, also known as PU106A Hybrid. It was developed by the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team from the 2014 season, with their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. 
4. Why did we chose this device system? (What made it special?) At the dawn of the 2014 season awaits the new era of Formula One cars (significant rule changes). In the previous season, and the seasons before that, saw cars use big, gas guzzler engines such as the V12, V10 and V8. However, with the new F1 regulations, cars are fitted with an even smaller displacement engine and with fewer cylinders, the 1.6l V6 Hybrid.
5. We found that the reason for this  change by the F1 directors was to reduce emissions and achieve minimum fuel consumption. The cars travelled sluggishly through corners, with lower top end speed on the straights, and was 5 seconds a lap slower on average compared to the 2013 cars that used V8 engines (website).
6. Despite the circumstances, of all the 10 teams in the 2014 season, Mercedes was able to develop the best power unit on the grid and dominated the entire season, winning 16/19 races with 11 one-two finishes (F1 2014 statistics).

With the ingeniously designed engine and hybrid system of the PU106A Hybrid, Mercedes was miles ahead off their competitors in terms of development, as they dominate following 8 years winning 8 Constructor's Championships and 7 Driver's Championships.