Honda R&D using IBM Watson IoT technology for real-time monitoring and data analysis in F1 racers
17 March 2016
Honda R&D is monitoring and analyzing data from more than 160 sensors in Formula One (F1) cars using IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Drivers and crews can apply data and analytics in real-time to help streamline performance and improve fuel efficiency, enabling drivers to make real-time racing decisions based on this data, such as speed adjustments and pit stops.
To help mark its return to Formula One racing and reach new milestones in efficiency for both race cars and future consumer models, Honda R&D developed a new system to analyze data from the hybrid power units quickly and efficiently to check residual fuel levels and estimate the possibility of mechanical problems. Honda is using the IBM IoT for Automotive solution, based on IBM Watson IoT technology, to deliver data generated from cars, including temperature, pressure and power levels, directly to the cloud for real-time analysis.
As a race is taking place, data is streamed to the cloud and shared with the pit crew teams equipped with tablets and mobile technology. The data is analyzed in real-time by researchers at HRD Sakura, Honda’s R&D facility in Japan dedicated to automotive motorsports and the McLaren Honda F1 team in the United Kingdom.
Transmitting this analysis using IBM Streams, implemented by IBM Global Business Services, as the race is taking place allows for adjustments to basic metrics such as temperature, pressure and power levels that help improve the vehicle's performance.
IBM Streams is an advanced analytic platform that allows user-developed applications to quickly ingest, analyze and correlate information as it arrives from thousands of data stream sources. The solution can handle very high data throughput rates, up to millions of events or messages per second.
Additionally, the Honda research team can also now build very complex performance models to measure energy recovery of the power unit to ensure its longevity.
With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things, by 2025, every car will be connected in some way exuding vast amounts of streaming data ranging from traffic updates to health of the vehicle, operations and more. We are excited to team with Honda to provide sophisticated cognitive IoT capabilities and analytics to combine data directly from the F1 racing vehicles with other sources, allowing Honda to not only enhance its vehicles that are built for speed, but to also be more friendly to our environment.
—Harriet Green, general manager, Watson IoT, Commerce & Education, IBM
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