How does the UCI scan for hidden motors in race bikes? This video posted to Instagram by Claudio Cucinotta reveals the process of scanning a bike, in which a small tablet is used to check the frame for a hidden motor.
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We believe the UCI is using the magnetometer sensor built into a tablet to scan for the magnetic fields produced by the magnets in a motor. It could be using a dedicated app to do this, but it could just as simply be using the compass.
The bike being scanned belongs to a rider on the Italian Bardiani – CSF Pro Team.
5 thoughts on “Video shows UCI checking for hidden motors using a tablet”
Not all motors have magnets.
Not all motors have magnets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor
I think that eventually they’ll have to x-ray bikes.
Very high tech looking, but
Very high tech looking, but not likely to be any more effective than tapping the tubes and listening for hollow noises, or lack of them. Or simply sticking a magnet on the frame and watching if it falls off (unless anyone at testing level is still riding alloy frames?).
Or simply taking the time to
Or simply taking the time to remove the bottom bracket where the drive shaft would be.
giff77 wrote:
Which is what they did to Van den Driessche’s bike after the iPad gave suspicious readings, and apparnetly they had trouble dismantelling it.
As an initial check, its far too time consuming to do this to a selection of bikes prior to racing.
scrutineering
In motorsport the vehicles are inspected thoroughly and then a seal is placed on there. For instance on the engine cylinder head a metal tag is placed on the bolts to ensure that the engine has not been dismantled throughout the season.
This method of checking looks like it could be subverted by some teams.