Path to the Podium: Fight to the Finish
Blog: The Tibco Blog
In Formula One racing, everything happens in real time. Data is collected from the cars as they race around the track, as the weather is changing, and as competitors have unexpected misfortunes. When an unplanned event occurs, the whole race strategy needs to be reassessed, with a few seconds to make a decision. For the team, this can be seen as a threat or opportunity, and teams must ask themselves how they make the right decisions before the competition comes to the same conclusion. By understanding the context in real time and making the right decisions, they can predict their own outcome and come out ahead of the competition.
With everything happening in real time during an F1 race, everything can be monitored in real time. Streaming analytics collect and analyze data coming from over 300 sensors in the car, the equipment in the garage, the weather, and data made available about competitors. The team now has a complete view on the current context of the race. If anything happens, they see it.
Teams also leverage the learnings from their tests and analysis of the data from past races to identify data patterns in real time that signal threats or opportunities as they happen or before they happen. The system can notify engineers or teams leads of a situation that is about to occur based on predictive analytics of the current situation while also proposing decisions by explaining their likely outcome. The insights from the analysis made during testing and the beginning of the weekend combined with streaming analytics allows the team to look ahead further than the competition and make the right decisions.
These decisions then need to be executed. The athleticism of F1 drivers allows them to have reflexes so sharp that they can make corrections at the wheels so fast they can’t be caught with a standard camera. The team needs to behave the same way; once a decision has been made, everyone and everything needs to be notified as a car may arrives at the pits in a few seconds, with just a few seconds allotted to change tires and adapt configuration. The synchronization needs to be flawless. Streaming analytics allow the proper actions to be taken in time, and validates that their outcomes meets expectations. The unique combination of analytics and streaming analytics provides the ability to identify and seize race opportunities based on data while the competition is still wondering if they should bet their race on assumptions.
Teams are able to identify what they consider “situations of interest,” such as top performance, ideal strategy, and failure. The same can be done to identify data patterns that are early signs of the situations, even a fraction of a second before, as well as the ideal action to take. Teams are also able to identify patterns from real-time data flowing from sensors on the car, equipment, and other data sources. The right team members and systems are notified, proposing actions as well as their outcomes for an instant decision. In some cases, when configured to do so, it can take the action automatically. This helps sharpen the team’s competitive advantage.
By taking advantage of visual, predictive, and real-time analytics, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport can use the data gathered to accelerate innovation in their research and development, their manufacturing, their operations, and their brand. With everyone and everything working in sync, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport can successfully cross the finish line ahead of their competition.
See how TIBCO’s Insight Platform gives Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport a competitive advantage.
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