How Biometric Analysis Is Pushing Williams F1 Pit Stops Below 2 Seconds
IN DEPTH: Williams F1 is using IoT and video to work out how it can record pit stops consistently below 2 seconds and win more races
In addition, the pit lane is fitted with three cameras to see how technique can be improved. During out of season testing, some members have been given wearable Go Pro cameras but these are banned at races.
Video analysis is done manually via freeze frame, but data harvested via the connected devices is analysed on the Microsoft Cloud via Williams’ partnership with Avanade.
The findings are presented in a dashboard format and the data is reviewed to see what can be done better and what can be repeated to ensure consistency.
Adaptable technology
“The biometrics is [about] gathering lots of data and getting the processing power,” Darren Hardman, general manager for Avanade UK, tells Silicon. “How we help is we surface that data into the Azure cloud and we have a Microsoft BI tool. A few years ago you couldn’t process that data.
“You can have the best data in the world but unless you [can make sense of it] it’s useless. Every F1 team is looking to differentiate and tech is the biggest factor right now.
“We’re fully focused on how we do this for Williams. A team the size of Williams doesn’t have endless reserves to invest in manufacturing so it has to make sure it has to disrupt with technological advancement. We need to make sure we drive business value out of the investments they’re making.”
Hackland says he approached Avanade about joining forces with Williams when he joined in early 2014 having worked with the Microsoft-Accenture joint-venture at his previous team, Lotus.
Avanade hopes the partnership will demonstrate its capabilities to firms in other industries, but admits a level of customisation for Formula One is required.
“Financial services and utilities are heavily regulated industries but not a patch on F1 teams. They really need to invest in [technology] to optimise and speed up processes in their business,” says Hardman.
“We’ll try and use a vanilla platform as much as possible because it keeps costs low but the nature of the industry is niche and that requires a level of customisation. When we can use Microsoft tools in a vanilla way we can, but there’s no industry template called ‘Formula One’.”
Rule changes
Pit crews spend time simulating and working on different scenarios, while Williams has even written a literal rulebook for the perfect pit stop.
But Formula One’s rulebook is a fluid concept. Next year, the regulations will change again and the tyres will change – altering methods and making pit stops harder due to the additional weight.
“Next year is going to be a big change – [the tyres] are going to be heavier and bigger – so it’s going to be much more physical,” adds Fisher, noting the front wheel will become as large as the present rear wheels, which will grow larger still.
These regulations are still unconfirmed so the specifics are partly guesswork. But Hackland believes his team are ready thanks to their preparation.
“Next year most of this team will not have worked with these regulations so we need to do a lot of simulating,” he concludes. “Because there’s only one tyre manufacturer (Pirelli) [the tyres are] not made for one team, so you need to [optimise] your car.”
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