Artificial intelligence (AI) has become ubiquitous, permeating various aspects of our daily lives, from the smartphones we carry to the smart speakers in our homes, as well as editing software and workspace applications. The realm of motor racing has also embraced AI technology, with the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix serving as a testing ground for the integration of AI by the Formula One racing’s governing body to address violations related to track limits.
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), headquartered in Paris, recently disclosed its intention to leverage “Computer Vision” technology for this purpose. This innovative technology utilizes form analysis to ascertain the movement of pixels along the track’s edge to identify potential record limit breaches.
The decision to employ AI by FIA stems from the need for more efficient handling of violations. During this year’s Austrian Grand Prix, a mere four individuals were tasked with managing approximately 1,200 potential infractions, as reported by Reuters. Subsequently, an additional eight personnel were allocated to oversee transgressions during the crucial Qatar Grand Prix in October, where they monitored 820 intersections along the track boundaries.
Despite the increased manpower at the US Grand Prix in Austin last October, some violations eluded detection. This prompted FIA to seek a more effective solution to enforce track limit violations before the commencement of the following year’s races.
The implementation of AI is expected to enhance FIA’s capabilities in detecting actual breaches, particularly instances where drivers exceed track limits by utilizing all four wheels over the white line. This technological advancement is anticipated to expedite response times and alleviate the workload at FIA’s remote operations center (ROC).
Tim Malyon, the head of distant operations and lieutenant race director at FIA, highlighted the successful application of Computer Vision technology in cancer testing within the medical field. He emphasized the aim of utilizing this technology to discern cases where violations occur, akin to identifying cancer cases, by filtering out obvious non-violations.
Malyon emphasized that the integration of Computer Vision technology will streamline the evaluation process at the ROC, resulting in a reduction of reported violations for further investigation by race control. He underscored the significance of real-time automated surveillance systems, stating that continuous investment in such programs is crucial for significant advancements in this domain.
