Petra Fuchsíková got the idea to connect her racing motorbike with MindSphere when the platform was being launched on the Czech market. The cloud solution was new, and in the beginning, there were a limited number of real-use examples.
“We only had case studies from abroad available; all information was indirect. So I thought of creating my own project and connecting a machine that I knew a lot about with MindSphere”, Petra Fuchsíková says.
“We would thus be able to present real data that could impress customers more than, let’s say, an ordinary machine. This was the birth of the idea for a smart motorbike, and thanks to a colleague from my team who chose suitable hardware and then commissioned it, the entire solution became a reality.”
“Smart” motorbike
At first sight, you can’t see that it is a “smart” motorbike equipped with sensitive sensors fitted to various parts of the motorbike. Except for the fork, all the sensors are hidden by the bodywork. The reason is rather ordinary: in the event of a fall, the technology could be damaged, even though the sensors are placed inside cases printed on a 3D printer.
Connected to the cloud
During training sessions and races, the sensors will collect raw data not only from the motorcycle but also from the external environment. After the data is sent to MindSphere via an application, it will be analysed, and the knowledge gleaned will serve to improve the motorcycle’s set-up. This digital technology provides the rider with exceptional feedback and the possibility of improving not only her machine’s technical condition but also her racing strategy and riding style.
The racing team uses the Fleet Manager application, a free-of-charge component of the MindSphere platform, to analyse the data from the motorbike. Thanks to it, they can monitor individual data measurements, compare values saved over a selected period, and create graphs. Another function of the Fleet Manager application is the creation of rules. “We can create advanced limits for the measured quantities, and if they are exceeded, the system will alert us,” explains the rider.
Data analysis in the cloud
The racing team can display the data sent to MindSphere by the motorbike’s sensors and evaluated via the Fleet Manager application online during the ride or offline at any time it is needed. The racer herself cannot monitor the data – that doesn’t mix well with riding at high speeds. However, if needed, her colleagues in the pits can tell her about a looming danger readable from the data using the speaker in her helmet. “For example, they can tell me that my rear tyre isn’t warm enough for extreme braking or an extreme lean angle into a curve,” says Petra Fuchsíková.
Analysing data fast
Quick data analysis directly at the circuit is also of great benefit in situations with no imminent danger. It enables the mechanics to react to the displayed data and to set up the motorbike to achieve the best possible results immediately after the racer returns from her training session.
In-depth data analysis is then carried out by the racer and her team in the peace and quiet of their office, where one can see many more aspects of a given ride. “At that moment, we can use MindSphere libraries and process the data using higher-order logic. For instance, we can use neural networks, machine learning, predictive analysis and others, which are embedded in the Siemens platform’s libraries,” explains Petra Fuchsíková.
source : https://new.siemens.com/global/en/company/stories/industry/cloud-motorsport-siemens.html
