Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, sees 20 on the fastest drivers in the world and 10 teams compete every year for the titles of Driver Champion and Constructors Champion. F1 in arguably the world’s most technologically advanced sport and has a long history of pushing the boundaries of technology and engineering, which has led to the development of numerous cutting-edge technologies and procedures that have found their way into everyday life.
There are many instances of F1-technology impacting road cars. Things such as paddle-shifters, steering wheel buttons, hybrid powertrains and active suspension were all developed for F1. Mercedes recently revealed their stunning F1 inspired road car – the AMG One – which combines all the cutting edge technology of F1 and a road-car.
However today, let’s take a look at some instances when F1 influenced our world beyond the realm of cars.
Saving Lives
According to a 2005 study, nearly 70% of preventable hospital mishaps (used to) occur due to communication problems, with half of those happening during handoffs. Great Ormond Street Hospital for children, which treats 100,000 children each year and is known for its expertise in infant heart surgery, employed learnings from the Ferrari F1 pit-crew to bring order to the previously “clumsy and chaotic” handover process.
The doctors saw the Formula 1 pitstop process as analogous to the team effort of surgeons, anaesthetist, and ICU staff to transfer the patient, equipment, and information safely and quickly from operating room to ICU. They developed, employed and monitored their Ferrari-inspired handover processes between December 2003 and December 2005. After the changes, the average number of technical errors per handover fell 42% and "information handover omissions" fell 49%. As a result, the hospital reported improved patient safety and a reduction in error rates from 30% to 10%.
Sustainable Supermarkets
Refrigerators are the largest source of power consumption in supermarkets. So, it is easy to see why supermarket stores such as Sainsburys, M&S, Tesco and ASDA would look to implement refrigerator-related energy-efficient solutions in their stores in order to cut costs and move towards their sustainability goals.
The UK-based Aerofoil Energy developed a device in collaboration with the Williams (F1) Advanced Engineering team to help supermarkets reduce energy and costs with a ‘rear wing’ design on their open fridges.
The device is inspired by the design of a Formula 1 car’s rear wing, made of 100% recycled aluminium, and can help reduce supermarkets’ energy consumption by 25% and energy costs by 30% every year.
Modernizing Cities
F1 has been the test bed of new technology for a long time. One such technology was the 5G. F1 teams were among the first adopters of 5G to facilitate rapid data transmission among all of their components.
In 2018, it was announced that Singapore would combine the data technology used in F1 with 5G to the management of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit system.
Advanced simulation & modelling
F1 teams use advanced simulation and modeling technologies to optimize the performance of their cars and to test new technologies before they are used on track. These technologies include computer-aided design (CAD) systems, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and dynamic simulation systems that allow engineers to simulate and test different scenarios in a virtual environment.
The use of these advanced simulation and modeling tools has led to more efficient design processes, allowing engineers to test and iterate new designs quickly and cost-effectively. The principles behind these tools have been applied to other industries, including architecture, product design, and aerospace engineering. For example, architects use simulation tools to design buildings that are more energy-efficient, while aerospace engineers use simulation tools to design aircraft that are more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient.
In conclusion, the technology developed and used in F1 has had a significant impact on everyday life. The sport has been a driving force behind the development of new materials, manufacturing techniques, and advanced electronics and control systems, all of which have been adopted by other industries. F1 has also been at the forefront of safety technology, and many of the safety systems developed for the sport have been adopted for use in other areas, helping to improve the safety of everyday drivers and passengers. Finally, the use of advanced simulation and modeling tools in F1 has led to more efficient design processes and has been applied to other industries, helping to drive innovation and improve efficiency across a range of sectors.
Comments