Intel Atom Chips Used in 1000mph Supersonic Car

Intel’s Atom processors are being used to help a land-based car smash the sound barrier (approximately 776.2mph) and reach speeds of up to Mach 1.4.

The Bloodhound Supersonic Car is being led by Richard Noble, who was the holder of the land speed record between 1983 and 1997. Noble was also the project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which holds the current land speed record of 763 mph, set at Black Rock Desert, Nevada in 1997.

Bloodhound however is attempting to go faster. Unveiled at the 2010 Farnborough International Airshow today, this Supersonic Car will attempt to reach speeds of up to 1,000 mph. Intel’s chips will be used to control the engine as well as the in-car control systems.

Intel Inside

Of course, the processors are not the ones usually found in a conventional laptop, but have been specifically designed for use in industrial and automotive applications. They were apparently selected because of their performance and power saving capabilities.

Three Atom chips will manage the calculations behind the car’s “hybrid” rocket propulsion system. Essentially, the Bloodhound designers have fitted a jet engine from a Typhoon fighter aircraft, which many of the most advanced combat fighter planes in the world today. These chips will check the calculations of other processors to ensure there are no errors.

Another processor will also be used to relay this and other status information, stored on an internal SSD chip, back to the pilot/driver on the cockpit displays.

Meanwhile, four other processors are used in the control systems of the car to ensure it remains firmly planted on the ground and to keep the car on a smooth trajectory during its record breaking attempts.

Rocket Power

The driver of the Bloodhound is in fact a pilot, namely Wing Commander Andy Green, who will use ‘winglets’ on the car to control both lift and downforce in real time. His inputs will be translated by the control systems, with the aid of the Atom processors, to these stability control systems, so they can be adjusted accordingly.

“This is an important engineering milestone, and yet another great example of the close collaboration between Intel and Bloodhound,” said Mark Chapman, chief engineer for the Bloodhound programme. “The Atom processor has impressed us with its power-saving, performance and resilience and, thanks to this, we have managed to use fewer processors in the car – saving on vital weight and space.”

The Atom processors run at speeds of 1.6 Ghz, and Intel has indicated that 26 of its employees will also join the Bloodhound Education Ambassadors programme, which will visit UK schools, universities and public events. The idea of this programme is to create interest science, technology, engineering and mathematics among people of all ages.

“Intel recognises that globally there is an increasing shortage of science and maths engineers to help drive the next generation of innovators for the 21st century,” said Tim Hatch, education spokesperson for Intel UK. “Core to the heart of Intel’s Education program are STEM subjects and the similarity to the aims of the Bloodhound education programme is one of the main reasons we formed this partnership.”

Also at the Farnborough airshow is the Bloodhound Driving Experience. This is essentially a simulator that gives test drivers the opportunity to get behind the wheel of this jet and rocket-powered car and experience motoring at 15 times the national speed limit, as they attempt to set a new World Land Speed record.

This experience was developed in collaboration with the University of Southampton, Cursive Simulation, The Race Centre, the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE) and Escape Studios.