F1 and the World (Part 5) - Technology
- File: world5.mp3
- Length: 03:18
- Size: 3.1 MB
- Transcript: world5.pdf
Welcome to F1 and the World, the latest mini series from Sidepodcast looking at F1 and its place in society. We’ve already covered the effect that sport has on the economy and the planet, but what relevance does it hold for technology? Today we will investigate.
A lot of arguments for F1 centre around the fact that the useful technology that is created trackside can then be passed on to the cars we drive today. I think I’ve already alluded to that in this mini series already. But if we’re being perfectly honest, some of today’s road cars are actually more advanced than an F1 car, especially when it comes to technology. F1 is all about speed and aerodynamics, whereas road cars introduce parking sensors and integrated iPods. It’s not really the same thing.
So what technology is F1 helping? Let’s start with Force India. Vijay Mallya is the head honcho of Kingfisher Airlines and the owner of the newest F1 team on the grid. It’s no coincidence that aerospace and F1 are often seen in the same sentence together. Force India have alliances with EADS and Airbus to share resources, data, and technologies. In 2004, Renault F1 and Boeing formed a research partnership to quote: “collaborate on a number of advanced design and manufacturing technologies.” McLaren have partnered with BAE Systems for years.
Actually, this last example is interesting. BAE Systems provide defence solutions for the armed forces, in land, sea and air. They decided the motorsport industry had the technology and the insight to become a good partner. A spokesman from BAE Systems said: “Car racing technology looks promising for refuelling military vehicles in dusty conditions.” The Bahrain Grand Prix could be considered somewhat dusty, don’t you think? They’re also interested in high reliability components and low power consumption, both of which F1 is developing for the ever changing rules.
It works both ways. Qinetiq, a defence and security company, have partnered with Williams for three years, since it was BMW Williams, in fact. They share technology both ways, with Qinetiq able to give back to Williams. They have stronger and more heat-resistant materials that have been used on their military aircraft. They have advanced GPS technology to help determine the exact position of the car on the track – accurate to 2.5cm. And they have cutting edge predictive software to help in design and research when developing the car.
What we have here, is top defence and aerospace companies giving their best technologies to F1 to keep the sport at the pinnacle of motorsport. In return, these companies, Qinetiq, BAE Systems, Boeing, they get demonstrations of their technology in practice, get data from the track, and see what works and what doesn’t. Because when it comes to the Ministry of Defence, you want them to have confidence in the technology they have.
So, the next time someone tries to tell you that F1 is wasteful and unnecessary, just argue back. The army need somewhere to test out their new tank’s GPS, you don’t want them getting lost out in the desert somewhere. Why not make a sport out of it as well?
That wraps up today’s F1 and the World. Join me tomorrow when we will gaze into our crystal balls and look at where F1 is headed in the future.
Theme Music: No Plastic Inside, Around the World
May 5th, 2008 at 8:24 pmRich said:
One wonders why Williams are not more competitive given such a high-tech partner? I wonder who helps Ferrari with their technological needs?
As always an insightful podcast - well done Christine.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:32 ambrendan stallard said:
Rich,
Machett did an analysis of Williams when they were breaking down a lot while twinned up with BMW. The Germans were real ticked about the reliability thing, because its a major part of their cool factor for the road cars that they don’t break down.
Machett thinks that Head and FW are both hard heads and after the Senna accident, in which certain opinion held that there was a foreseeable fault with the steering column which was responsible for Sennas death.
That has led them to build some bits too strong, and at that at the time: the car just wasn’t a good fit for the engine.
Something like that, remember I’m not yer techno wallah, but I’m sure Matchett said something like that.
brendan
May 6th, 2008 at 12:36 ambrendan stallard said:
“They have advanced GPS technology to help determine the exact position of the car on the track – accurate to 2.5cm.”
Rich,
Coo eee: I wouldn’t mind one of those. I have spent an ungodly amount of my youth wandering around mountains and hills in the freezing cold trying to find a way home, a GPS would have been a wonder to me then.
I was driving a limo with a GPS accurate to around 150 feet, when Clinton removed the dithering and the GPS immediately became accurate to around 15 feet or so. The difference was amazing and it was truly a joy to find my way around town without being completely lost: Atlanta is a big, bendy town, believe me.
Whatever that 2.5 cm GPS is, I WANT one:)!
brendan