Honda Motor used IBM Watson in performance management of engines of race cars of F1

On April 5, 2016 the IBM corporation announced upgrade of management of the power unit of the F1 car of Honda company by means of IBM Watson IoT.

Project Tasks

After the race engineers of the company receive data on adjustment of phases of distribution, on fuel consumption from control facilities of the power unit of a race car to adjust the strategy of behavior in the following arrival.

Logo of the company on the building (2013)

The car and motorcycle sport evolved to the level when they substantially are controlled data, and pilots have permanent network connection. Technical commands can quickly analyze the arriving data from the power unit and the driver in real time to carry out correction of strategy of a race (including fuel economy methods) which are among the critical factors defining a victory.

In 2014 the International automobile federation (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA) under the direction of which Formula 1 races are held published new requirements according to which all cars of Formula 1 should use hybrid engines and not to go beyond the set restrictions on consumption of fuel during the races. It forced motorcycle sport to focus on development of more energy efficient automobile technologies.

Project Progress

Trying to reach higher values of efficiency – as for racing cars, and future consumer models, Honda R&D developed an analysis system of data from hybrid engines. It allows to check quickly and effectively the residual level of fuel and to estimate the probability of emergence of mechanical problems. The Honda R&D company applies the solution IBM IoT for Automotive on the basis of IBM Watson IoT technology to data transmission, generated by cars (including temperature, pressure and power) directly in a cloud for the analysis in real time.

Using opportunities IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) research division of the company Honda - Honda R&D collects and analyzes data from more than 160 sensors on each car Honda for Formula 1 races.

Drivers and technical commands can use in real time data and analytics for optimization of characteristics of the engine, increase in efficiency of use of fuel. According to the statement of the partner companies, it will help to make quickly decisions in the course of the race, for example - to regulate motion speed and to select time for a Pit stop.

During the race data in streaming mode come to a cloud and are used by members of technical commands on tablets and mobile devices. These data are analyzed in real time by researchers from HRD Sakura, research division of Honda R&D company in Japan, the staff of Honda monitoring the race course on the route. Transfer of results of this analysis using the IBM Streams platform implemented by division of IBM Global Business Services in the course of holding a race allows to regulate basic parameters, such as temperature, pressure and power, for the purpose of improvement of indicators of the power unit. The research Honda group had an opportunity to create very difficult models of performances for measurement of recovery of energy in the power unit and ensuring its durability.

The Honda R&D company is very glad to cooperation with IBM during the responsible period of return to Formula 1 races. The advanced IoT-technologies guarantee to our drivers and technical commands permanent connection. Around the world fans admire the capacity of our power unit and achievements of our drivers while the importance of data and importance of their real-time processing becomes a critical factor for a victory in races. Satora Nad, the chief engineer and the manager of division of Power Unit Development Division in Honda R&D Co., Ltd. HRD Sakura

As a result of rapid growth of Internet of Things by 2025 each car will be connected to network in one way or another. It will generate huge volumes of the stream data containing data on road traffic, on a vehicle status, on actions of the driver and many others. We are very inspired with joint work with Honda. On the basis of our IoT-solution we offer the company the difficult cognitive opportunities of Internet of Things and means of analytics allowing to integrate data of the power unit of the car of Formula 1 with information from other sources. It allows Honda not only to improve the power units focused on achievement of high speed but also to arrange more eco-friendly production. Garriyet Green, the head of department of Watson IoT, Commerce & Education in IBM