Feature

Formula One tech explained: Photo-imaging and the wind tunnel

With track testing limited to just a handful of days per year in modern Formula One, the wind tunnel has become an essential testing tool for defining and evaluating aero concepts for the current season and beyond.

And with radical changes to the sport's aerodynamic regulations set to hit the track in 2022, the tunnel is the key ingredient that will define success or failure for a Grand Prix team.

But with ever-more stringent limits on the amount of time teams are permitted to run their tests, it has become crucial to use every second of that time as efficiently as possible. With shortened running, teams now need to gather meaningful data in short, sharp bursts.

Added to that, the files associated with wind tunnel data-capture are huge and unwieldy, so quickly collating, processing, and analysing that data becomes imperative.

F1 Tech explained

Watch: Photo-imaging and the wind tunnel

Watch as Wind tunnel Systems Engineer Dr Mathew Almond and Senior Aerodynamicist Joe Masterson explain how the team collects data using a sophisticated photo-imaging technique.

Working closely with NetApp, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team is able to manage data from the wind tunnel and across the organisation quickly and securely, minimising delays and down time.

Wind tunnel Systems Engineer Dr Mathew Almond and Senior Aerodynamicist Joe Masterson explain how the team collects data using a sophisticated photo-imaging technique, and how vital it is to have a secure and reliable data storage system for analysis and testing.