Microsoft agrees race formula

Motor racing tie-in to help develop data analysis at high speed

Technology developed for Formula One (F1) racing cars by Microsoft will be used to improve its offerings in other industries.

This week Microsoft and McLaren Electronic Systems (MES) finalised the contract with F1 governing body FIA to provide standardised engine control units (ECUs) for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 racing seasons.

The project will integrate high-performance computing with Microsoft software, to produce a standard set of electronics and associated embedded software for cars used by each of the 12 competing F1 teams.

The technology will enable high-speed data delivery and analysis capabilities and is part of FIA’s plans to save money, increase competition and support fuel efficiency and energy recovery initiatives.

Manuel Simas, director of worldwide automotive industry at Microsoft, says knowledge gained from the collaboration with MES will be applied in other industries.

‘The fast-paced research and development cycle for improvements means that through real-time testing we can look at improving the products and software used in traditional industries,’ he said.

Simas says Microsoft’s SharePoint collaboration platform could benefit as a result.

‘We can reuse improvements for other industries where high-performance computing is needed,’ he said.

Peter van Manen, managing director of MES, describes the collaboration as ‘a hot-bed for testing new software.’

‘F1 tends to take advantage of software products as they become available. You get a very intense and aggressive testing process of new products,’ he said.

MES will work with Microsoft to develop the ECU systems and then manufacture and supply the units to all F1 teams.

The ECUs will gather data from more than 100 sensors located on each car. Each ECU will generate on average 100kB to 500kB of data per second, and gather up to 1GB of information from the sensors during a race. That information will be broadcast in real time back to systems located in the pit-side garages.

‘Collaboration will help get the right information at the right time, including post-racing activities,’ said Simas.

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