The Formula One Administration is testing intelligent technology to address track limit violations at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in addition to new systems aimed at achieving enhanced accuracy in determining the car’s location.
The International Automobile Federation explained that it utilizes computer vision technology to analyze shape and calculate the number of pixels exceeding the track boundary.
When drivers cross the white line on the track edge with all four wheels, artificial intelligence can identify real breaches, thus reducing pressure on the International Automobile Federation’s operations center and speeding up the response.
The Austrian Grand Prix is considered a significant event in this sport, where only four individuals need to handle many potential violations, reaching about 1200 offenses.
In the Qatar Grand Prix, the International Automobile Federation assigned eight people to assess track limits and monitor 820 angles, resulting in 141 reports sent to race stewards. Subsequently, 51 laps were deleted.
In the United States Grand Prix in Austin, some infringements that occurred were not penalized, and supervisors pointed out that their inability to enforce race rules properly at the sixth turn was unacceptable, necessitating a solution to this issue before the next season begins.
Tim Malion, Chief Operating Officer at the International Automobile Federation and Deputy Race Director, mentioned the use of computer vision technology in the field of medicine to extract data from cancer screenings.
Malion added: “Doctors do not prefer using computer vision for cancer diagnosis but rather to eliminate 80% of cases where cancer is not clear, and give well-trained individuals more time to examine the remaining 20% of cases, which is our target.”
The additional digital layer of computer vision reduces the potential breaches viewed in the International Automobile Federation’s remote operation center, allowing for additional monitors to observe the race and take more actions.
Formula One Race Management believes that technological innovation helps reduce accidents requiring human intervention.
This means that using artificial intelligence system enhances the processing of remote operation center for a few incidents of track limit violations, leading to a reduced time gap between reporting the violation and issuing a verdict.
Formula One Race Management aims to decrease the current estimated number of reports for a large race from about 800 reports to only 50 reports.
