Earlier this yr, Hexagon introduced an enlargement of its partnership with Formulation 1 crew Oracle Purple Bull Racing (ORBR) by way of a multi-year deal. For the previous 18 years, Hexagon has supplied the crew with a wide range of 3D scanning, metrology, and digitalisation options to assist it achieve a aggressive edge over the remainder of the F1 area.
Following the announcement, Manufacturing High quality had the chance to ask Alexander Aime, VP of World Advertising and marketing at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, a sequence of questions. Aime supplied additional data concerning the teachings Hexagon has realized throughout the partnership, whether or not the partnership has instantly influenced Hexagon’s options, and the way Hexagon will help ORBR with the game’s 2026 regulation adjustments.
RT: Congratulations on the partnership renewal. Within the 18 years Hexagon has labored with Purple Bull, are there any key classes that Hexagon has learnt by watching its options used within the motorsport sequence?
AA: The necessity for fixed innovation is the one key lesson you be taught from 20 years of shut collaboration with a crew working below intense aggressive stress on the pinnacle of the world’s most technologically superior sport. The Oracle Purple Bull Racing (ORBR) automotive undergoes 20,000 design adjustments each season, which has accelerated the tempo of R&D innovation within the 3D laser scanning and digitalisation that Hexagon gives.
In Formulation 1, each millisecond issues – and sustained success will depend on the flexibility to innovate at excessive velocity. Throughout the limits of the foundations and the know-how, the crew is at all times pushing the boundaries of what’s attainable. The intention is to be as near the suitable aspect of that boundary as bodily attainable. Whereas the racing crew always searches for a aggressive benefit in each conceivable manner, Hexagon know-how not solely has to adapt quickly but additionally always anticipate what it can want subsequent.
RT: Following on from the earlier query, have any of Hexagon’s options been instantly influenced by its partnership with Purple Bull (for instance, any enhancements or upgrades with any of the know-how the racing crew makes use of)?
AA: The engineering crew’s mantra is “High quality at velocity”. One of many challenges ORBR had was scanning the floor of its composite elements. It took too lengthy with earlier laser scanning know-how, regardless of the system buying 200 factors per second, and the information was not at all times full as a consequence of reflection. These elements are essential to the aerodynamics of the automotive, however they’re painted and glossy, which suggests they might not get persistently good knowledge to validate that they had been manufactured to the exact tolerances required. Pushed by suggestions about our earlier 3D laser scanners, we applied a extremely progressive new know-how aptly named SHINE or “Systematic Excessive-Intelligence Noise Elimination”, which makes it attainable to carry out high-speed 3D scanning at 1.2 million factors per second with out scanning efficiency degradation on any floor, regardless of the end or materials.
Moreover, Hexagon made it attainable to disconnect the AS1 from the articulated measuring arm that’s used to offer a place reference (x,y,z) when scanning a smaller part on a workbench and use it to carry out handheld scanning anyplace across the automotive as it’s assembled, then shipped out to races. That is made attainable by a second laser system known as a laser tracker that’s mounted on a tripod (it appears like a CCTV on a digicam tripod) and tracks the precise place of the AS1 laser scanner within the operator’s hand, and you may see this marriage of applied sciences at work earlier than each race at this time.
RT: All through your virtually 20 years working collectively, what Hexagon options stand out as being the most important recreation changers for the racing crew?
AA: Hyper-precision is vital to successful the F1 growth race. The velocity at which Hexagon’s metrology know-how captures knowledge ensures ORBR maintains its aggressive edge each on and off the observe, offering the trusted insights wanted for speedy growth.
Earlier than the partnership with Hexagon, measurement within the ORBR pit lane and proper throughout Formulation 1 was a handbook and static course of, which concerned conventional metrology blocks. These set-ups had been time-consuming, much less versatile and lacked the precision that Hexagon’s superior metrology options ship.
ORBR was the primary crew to carry Hexagon laser tracker know-how into the pit lane, which has fully remodeled how real-time, high-accuracy measurements affect choices on the observe. Hexagon’s transportable laser trackers and 3D scanning programs enabled ORBR to measure what that they had by no means been capable of measure earlier than. The FIA has additionally adopted the identical Hexagon {hardware}, reinforcing belief within the knowledge and guaranteeing that compliance checks are constant and dependable throughout the game.
RT: This partnership extension will imply that Hexagon can be working with Purple Bull when the brand new 2026 rules come into impact. Is the crew utilising Hexagon’s know-how in any new methods with the brand new automotive rules in thoughts, in comparison with what they’re used to?
AA: The 2026 FIA rules are very important, particularly in sustainability, as automobiles would require much less gasoline and extra electrical output. In response, ORBR has fashioned a devoted crew for constructing its personal powertrain engine for the primary time, and Hexagon’s function is vital to the speedy progress of this mission.
ORBR went from idea to supply in lower than six months – a powerful achievement provided that powertrains comprise round 5,000 dynamically-moving elements. All elements should work collectively seamlessly, with final precision, to push the automotive to its peak efficiency.
Hexagon instruments present the ORBR engineering crew with the flexibility to pick out and construct probably the most correct powertrain by way of using built-in software program within the meeting course of. This functionality additionally allows them to adapt swiftly and effectively to the rising regulatory adjustments which might be a characteristic of just about each season.
The Formulation 1 cap on expenditure inside FIA guidelines is likely one of the most far-reaching, compelling groups to maintain prices down. This cover, which presently rests at €128 million, leaves little room for errors and means ORBR should drive in direction of even larger ranges of effectivity. However Hexagon’s know-how ensures the crew is absolutely assured about tolerances and measurements earlier than the automotive undergoes FIA inspections for security and technical requirements.
RT: Within the press launch for the partnership renewal, it says that Hexagon has helped Purple Bull Racing scale back faults by 50%. In what key areas did Hexagon’s applied sciences assist enhance high quality ranges?
AA: In F1, the race begins when automobiles are designed, constructed and examined. The combination of Hexagon’s high-precision inspection metrology and digitalisation into ORBR’s advanced engineering processes has remodeled the high quality and accuracy of latest elements designed on the cutting-edge of innovation.
Hexagon’s software program offers ORBR the ability to measure, simulate and analyse each part and system, halving on-track faults. Each part is manufactured to the extent required the primary time, which has accelerated the manufacturing of every new automotive. Quicker automotive manufacturing will increase testing time, and in F1, that may be a main component in success on the observe.
Hexagon’s help continues at trackside too, serving to maximise efficiency by way of 3D laser scanning know-how. That is essential to refining aerodynamics and guaranteeing precision set-ups that propel the crew to the entrance of the grid.
For every race, the ORBR crew has to strip the automotive down to eight,000 elements for transport after which reassemble it, with many elements substituted from automotive to automotive, race to race. They use Hexagon metrology gear and scanners to make sure reassembly is ideal and that any changed elements are precisely as required. As a result of ORBR has embedded Hexagon inspections into its manufacturing processes, it is aware of elements are the suitable high quality each time, which is what has made an enormous distinction.
