Being high-tech sectors, both space and Formula 1 are drivers of innovation. Space blankets, a water recycling system, memory foam and strong lightweight materials, these are all examples of space spin-offs that you might recall from earlier posts in this blog. In the same way, Formula 1 is also changing the world with technological innovations. In this article you will learn more about space and Formula 1 spin-offs. What’s more, satellite applications are being used on the racetrack. Finally, we make a stop in zero gravity, a pit stop to be precise!
Fueling innovation
The space industry is a fantastic vehicle for pushing back technological frontiers. Due to the harsh environment of outer space (weightlessness, vacuum, temperature extremes), systems are designed to be failure-proof, reliable, and durable. This makes the market for the resulting technology and knowhow nearly boundless. Raising awareness among companies for such cross-sector collaboration is key.
In Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA) encourages the licensing of intellectual property to companies that want to develop products based on space technology through its Business Incubator Centres and Technology Transfer Network. The latter is a network of brokers across Europe working to identify novel uses for technology developed as part of Europe’s space programmes. Learn more about technology transfer opportunities and book your first meeting here.
For satellite-based services, European organisations such as Eurisy also play a valuable role in raising awareness among end-user communities that could potentially benefit from satellite applications and by making those technologies and the associated knowledge available.
Just like the space industry, Formula 1 (F1) is a rich source of technical solutions. Major motor manufacturers invest in F1 with the intention of exploiting the innovations to improve the safety, efficiency and appeal of their road cars. In some cases, the technology also finds its way to totally unrelated sectors. For example, British supermarket group Sainsbury’s fitted all of its store fridges with an energy-saving technology co-designed by part of the Williams F1 Group. Initially created to divert air over and around race cars to allow them to maximise performance, in store it helps to prevent cold air from leaving the cabinet, directing it back into the fridge.
During the early COVID-19 outbreak, F1 even took a turn towards the urgent national need for more medical devices for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In a collective effort termed “Project Pitlane”, seven F1 teams (Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, BWT Racing Point F1 Team, Haas F1 Team, McLaren F1 Team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, Renault DP World F1 Team, ROKiT Williams Racing) helped to manufacture and deliver respiratory devices. The project is an excellent example of F1’s unique ability to rapidly respond to engineering and technological challenges. It successfully pooled the core resources and capabilities of the F1 industry: rapid design, prototype manufacture, testing and skilled assembly.
ESA technology in autosport
Now that we have covered some F1 spin-offs, let’s have a look at how space has its own spin-offs in F1.
ESA has been experimenting with adding a natural fibre to its satellite body panels. Flax fibres, most commonly used to make linen, provide high specific stiffness, strength, and are able to damp down vibration well. The use of this natural fibre also reduces the environmental impacts of space manufacturing because it substitutes carbon fibres, which are employed to make carbon fibre reinforced plastic. In addition, flax fibres burn up more rapidly and completely during atmospheric reentry. This is important for the disposal of satellites at their end of life. Faster combustion upon reentry prevents the creation of additional space debris and is also safer for people and property on the ground.
With the support of ESA, this natural fibre composite is now also gaining traction in terrestrial uses, including inside F1 cars. McLaren Racing uses the weight-saving and more environmentally friendly natural fibre composite for its racing seats. On top of improved vibration-damping properties, it offers wider safety possibilities to a traditional seat with carbon fibres, which are notorious for splintering during accidents, puncturing wheels and potentially injuring drivers. It also adds to sustainability because at the end of the seat’s life it can be ground down into a new base material or thermally recycled without residual waste.
Over the last two decades there have been several other racing innovations that can be traced back to ESA. Here is a quick overview:
With lightweight materials from ESA, Pescarolo’s race cars saved about 30 kg on the body. During the Dakar Rally, the team also benefited from an exhaust cooling system originally used in the European launch vehicle Ariane.
Another spin-off featuring a cooling system was implemented by the F1 McLaren team. In 2002 the team experimented with a space suit cooling system to help their mechanics when working in extreme heat. The space cooling mechanism has also been included in protection gear for firemen and steel workers.
Weaving electrical wires together in flat bundles, a method developed for ESA satellites, helped to improve the performance of F1 cars. Thanks to this special spacecraft wiring technique, electrical cables can be fitted more easily beneath a seat, under the skin or in the bodywork of a race car fitting in places a traditional cable won’t.
Satellite Navigation
When we think of potential satellite applications on the racetrack, satellite positioning is probably the most straightforward. Satellite positioning can provide F1 teams with accurate measurements of straight-line speed, good estimates of relative driving lines, and track maps with an accurate representation of the circuit. However, F1 cars are not quite the same as ordinary road vehicles. The combination of instantaneous accelerations and the exact timing on checkpoints accurate up to milliseconds, make that satellite navigation data might not be the most suitable option. Furthermore, circuits with large amounts of trees, such as the one of Spa Francorchamps, can lead to satellite signal dropouts. Other technologies such as transponders and wheel speed sensors are more accurate for F1 tracking and timing.
Weather
A crucial factor in F1 is the weather. Spa Francorchamps is one of the classic tracks on the F1 calendar where the weather can change minute-by-minute, and the conditions will play an important role in decisions and strategy. Races are won and lost based on interpreting what the weather is going to do, so it is not surprising that the F1 has its own travelling weather service. Since 2014, Ubimet supplies weather data to race control for all F1 races. The Austrian forecaster dispatches meteorologists and weather stations to every Grand Prix. Ubimet’s forecasting algorithms provide real-time updates based on weather radar and satellite maps which are communicated during the track sessions to the garages via a web portal.
Satellite communications
Since F1 teams are required to build their own racecars, trophies are also awarded to the winning constructor. Consequently, there is much more going on behind the scenes than we see on our television screens during the season. On race weekends, engineering support groups stay connected via satellite to the team’s mobile trackside race-control center anywhere in the world. By employing satellite-based communications systems, teams can immediately transmit vehicle data to their headquarters. Sensors inside the cars record data about the engine, chassis, and other performance indicators. Most of this data will be downloaded onto the team’s track-side server at the end of each session. From there it is bounced up to a satellite and down to the server at headquarters where technicians can run additional simulations. From headquarters new settings can then be beamed back to the crew at the circuit.
If you are one of the millions of people watching F1, you are also benefiting from communications satellites. Since the year 2000, satellite news gathering operator Multi-Link Holland has been providing uplink connections for F1 races, commissioned by major broadcasters from all over the world.
Zero gravity pit stop
Ever wondered how a pit stop in a weightless environment could work? In this video below you can check out how Red Bull Racing teamed up with Russian space agency Roscosmos in a series of parabolic flights!
Just like space exploration is spawning new technology, pushing the boundaries of F1 cars leads to better road cars and other innovations. We have seen a number of F1 spin-offs in unrelated sectors, as well as examples of space technology boosting race cars. However, it doesn’t end there. Satellite infrastructure is crucial for worldwide transmissions to fans and even for transmitting vehicle and weather data to the F1 crews.