Formula 1: artificial intelligence to detect and assess track limit violations. Track Limits: AI Tested at Vallelunga.

A major issue in motorsport, including Formula 1, is the assessment of track limit violations and the sometimes delayed and inconsistent allocation of penalties. Over the years, various solutions have been tested, but none have worked optimally. Gravel, loved by some drivers and hated by others, would be the best compromise, but it’s not always feasible to place it on racetracks.

As reported by motorsport.com, a new technology that utilizes artificial intelligence to simplify the work of stewards has been tested recently at Vallelunga. Below are all the details.

Track Limits: AI Tested at Vallelunga

To accurately monitor if a car has exceeded track limits and gained an advantage, technology is beginning to be used, particularly referring to artificial intelligence linked to Computer Vision. The idea is that through cameras, every pixel of a specific area is analyzed, thus alerting race control to any potential track limit violation by each driver. It’s akin to a tennis “hawk-eye” where the electronic eye signals when the ball has gone out of play. This process should expedite the entire procedure, also reducing the number of cases that need to be analyzed by humans.

As reported by motorsport: “The first trials in Formula 1 were carried out at the end of last year in Abu Dhabi experimentally, but various solutions and systems are being tested worldwide. An example is the test conducted at the Autodromo Piero Taruffi in Vallelunga in recent days, where a track limit management system developed by Mermec Engineering, a company that develops solutions for the railway, digital mechatronics, and aerospace sectors, was tested.”

Niccolò Chierroni, CEO of Mermec Engineering, spoke about the project, stating: “The idea originated from interaction with Race Control, which often finds itself having to manage numerous track limit notifications during races, which are often not objectively clarified. This leads to disputes and problems in management.”

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He continued: “We thus thought that our automatic video analysis systems, i.e., artificial intelligence applied to computer vision, could be supportive. The system is therefore capable of automatically recognizing cars on the track, monitoring their crossing of a defined line in the corners of interest. Following the identification of the infringement, Race Control receives a real-time extract of the video, combined with a historical record of information, thus being able to proceed with the possible application of penalties.”

This could soon be feasible at many racetracks around the world because, much like VAR in football, it could rely on the existing cameras at each circuit, thus avoiding the need for new installations and making the system even more economically sustainable.

The reaction of the president of ACI was also excellent. After seeing the results, he declared: “The impression is excellent: an innovative and reliable technology. I believe that harnessing certain opportunities offered by artificial intelligence is essential, also to best respond to the challenges of the future.”

Who knows if this solution will soon be adopted in Formula 1, but it’s certainly a step forward towards resolving an issue that has been “spoiling” races in motorsport for years.