Lessons from the Racetrack: Accelerating innovation in our industries

Earlier this week ADS hosted a forum for members at Williams Advanced Engineering, the company provides world-class technical innovation, engineering, testing and manufacturing services. Using their expertise in Formula 1 technology, they take their cutting-edge work and apply it to boost the innovation in multiple sectors, including the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries.

Sectors working in collaboration to spin out and diversify technology and innovation, pioneers UK growth and delivers global opportunities.

Here are just a few examples of how Williams Advanced Engineering has used their own technologies to boost ADS’ sectors into new heights:

Airbus – Zephyr

In collaboration with Airbus, Williams Advanced Engineering is bringing their Formula 1 and Formula E-inspired technology and innovation to aerospace and space.

Airbus’ Zephyr High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) programme is a record-breaking, solar-powered, unmanned aerial system (UAS) with unique and communications and surveillance capabilities.

The project will focus on the ways in which ultra-lightweight materials, battery technologies and electrical cell chemistries can be integrated into Zephyr.

With four decades of experience in motor racing, where lightweight materials and structures are crucial to speed and safety, Williams is playing the perfect role in developing these technologies and finding innovative solutions to weight saving for the Airbus Zephyr programme.

General Dynamics – SCOUT SV

SCOUT Specialist Vehicle (SV) is the replacement for the British Army’s reconnaissance vehicle fleet. In collaboration with General Dynamics UK, Williams are bringing their Formula 1-bred technologies and capabilities to the state of the art SCOUT SV.

As part of a £17 million contract running until 2024, Williams will design and manufactures SCOUT SV’s Core Infrastructure Distribution System, the data backbone that allows the distribution of power for the best-in-class Armoured Fighting Vehicle.

Formula 1 has a long history of using sophisticated data logging to monitor and improve the performance of racing cars. Using this technology Williams are using their expertise in data analytics and systems integration to ensure that the SCOUT SV has the world’s most advanced electronic architecture and can provide troops with the information needed to stay safe and perform at their best.

Thales – BSCS

Commissioned by the UK Ministry of Defence and working in close collaboration with Thales, Williams Advanced Engineering was a key technical partner in the Biological Surveillance and Collector System (BSCS) project.

Learning from Formula 1 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), as well as testing in Williams’ wind tunnel, Williams and Thales have developed an innovative air detection system to protect troops from the treat of biological attack. The protection device is capable of detecting incoming attacking particles in the air through specialised sensors and evaluating equipment.

Williams Advanced Engineering and Thales have been recognised by UK government and the Ministry of Defence for their excellence in delivering to the UK Armed Forces a world leading and innovative system to protect troops from a biological attack.