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Tata Communications and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Team Up to Boost Performance

By Ken Briodagh May 31, 2017

Contests are often the source of key innovations in developing industries like the IoT. In pursuit of that goal, Tata Communications, the official connectivity provider to Formula 1 and the supplier of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, has launched the 2017 F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize and unveiled the first challenge of this year’s competition, focused on the Internet of Things (IoT). The first challenge, set by Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, asks F1 fans and technology enthusiasts to come up with ideas for IoT solutions that could be used by the team to deliver peak performance at each Grand Prix.

“The Formula 1 racing calendar requires a feat of human performance, race operations and logistics like no other,” said James Allison, Technical Director, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. “We wish to measure and optimise every aspect of how our engineers and drivers operate across multiple time zones, as well as how we manage a large number of off-car devices and equipment to give us the best chance of on-track success. For example, we have a dedicated coach to analyse human performance and advise our drivers and engineers on optimal sleep patterns for long-haul flights, and how to collaborate more efficiently at the track.”

For a chance of winning the $50,000 Grand Prize, fans and technologists need to design an IoT solution that helps Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport enhance its competitiveness across three key areas: human performance, race operations and logistics management. It should show how team members, equipment and workspaces could be converted into always-connected beings and things. By harnessing the power of the IoT and real-time data analytics, the solution should empower Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport to track, monitor and manage everything in real-time. This includes minimizing the impact of jet lag on engineers and drivers, maximizing the performance of an array of off-car components, such as tire blankets and data storage units, and ensuring the timely arrival of freight at each race venue.

“Formula 1 is all about new technologies and pushing the boundaries as far as we can; that’s what I love about the sport,” said Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Driver, three-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion, and a judge for the 2017 F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize. “The ‘Internet of Things’ has the potential to bring huge competitive advantages to our team’s operations, and change how fans experience the sport too. That’s what makes it so exciting. I can’t wait to see the ideas from fans for this challenge.”

The judges will pick three winners from each of the two challenges. The six winners will be awarded trips to the 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where the jury will announce the Grand Prize winner.

“The future of the digital world lies in enabling tens of billions of people and things globally to become seamlessly connected - this will open up tremendous opportunities in how we engage with one another and everything around us,” said Julie Woods-Moss, President and Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, Tata Communications. “As F1® enters a new era of digital transformation, we want to drive innovation in the sport through game-changing IoT solutions that have the potential to not only take the teams’ execution on and off the track to the next level, but also enhance the race experience for fans around the world.”

In addition to James Allison and Lewis Hamilton, the judging panel includes John Morrison, CTO, Formula One Group; Martin Brundle, former F1 race driver and F1 commentator for Sky Sports F1; and Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director of F1 Business, Tata Communications. Finally, for the first time since the launch of the competition in 2014, the F1Connectivity Innovation Prize will have a guest judge: Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports, Formula One Group.

A full brief for the first challenge can be downloaded from the F1 Connectivity Innovation Prize website. The closing date for the first challenge is June 15. The second challenge will be set by Formula One Group on July 13.




Edited by Alicia Young
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