Every one is using AI these days, and Formula One is the latest to join the team. One of the problems that Formula One was contesting with was quick resolution of track limit violations. In a sport where milliseconds can be the difference between a win and loss, it is simply unacceptable to see race directors and stewards taking their own time determining whether or not a driver has crossed track limits.
Now, why is this track limit governance important?
For those of you who don’t know, whenever there is a qualifying session in a formula one race weekend, every lap is important, and sometimes, the best of the best can make a mistake and put their car over track limits. When this happens, the lap time is deleted and the driver has to go again. If the stewards can identify track limit violations in time, it can help determine the final starting order in time. Today, this is not the case, and there have been cases where the final starting order for the race has been published hhours after the qualifying session has concluded.
How does AI come in?
Now, obviously, the final decision on whether the car has crossed the track limits lies with the stewards, AI will be used to reduce their workload. So, consider the two cases –
- The car is clearly over track limits
- It is a marginal call
The AI will separate the two and automatically declare the cases where the car is over the line. Only marginal calls will be pushed to the stewards. This way, the workload on them will decrease and decisions will be made faster.
This Computer Vision Tech, was employed at the recently concluded Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the difference was immediately noticed, making the sort of pilot program, a resounding success. The technology will definitely be polished going forward, and maybe even other aspects could be handled by AI, making the job a lot easier for the stewards.
