F1 to embrace AI software bots in race operations

The leading-edge technology behind race cars is still held back by human inefficiencies at the pit. Time for a change…

Artificially intelligent software robots (bots) will soon be integrated into McLaren Racing’s team operations. This is the result of a multi-year partnership with Automation Anywhere, a global Robotic Process Automation (RPA) company.

The partnership, beginning at the start of the 2020 Formula 1 season, will deploy Automation Anywhere’s intelligent digital workforce in a competitive motorsport environment. The technology involves the deployment of ‘digital workers’ that work side-by-side with people to perform repetitive and manual tasks. This will apparently help streamline McLaren’s business processes and empower the race operations team to improve efficiencies, reduce errors and speed up decision making. The company currently claims to offer the world’s only web-based and cloud native intelligent automation platform that combines RPA, AI, ML and analytics right out of the box, to help organizations rapidly start and scale their process automation journey.

Said Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing: “We’re delighted to welcome Automation Anywhere into the McLaren Racing family and the world of Formula 1, for the first time.To perform in this sport, we need to be at the forefront of technological advancements and empower our people to apply their focus to chasing marginal gains on track. Automation Anywhere’s sophisticated technology will help us do this, and we’re looking forward to working together in the coming seasons.”

Said Riadh Dridi, Chief Marketing Officer, Automation Anywhere, added: “McLaren Racing operates in a competitive environment dominated by fine margins, where seconds can have a major impact. We are excited to help McLaren make faster decisions by automating processes across the team’s race operations.” 

As part of the partnership, Automation Anywhere’s brand will be represented on the MCL35 race car, the race suits of the team’s race drivers, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, and on race operation equipment.