Peugeot has embraced the digital world in the development of its Le Mans challenger, the 9X8, and is now in the process of developing its relationship with supplier, Capgemini, in order to improve the digital accuracy of its World Endurance Championship contender.
Embracing artificial intelligence to analyse large amounts of data coming from the car is not new, but Peugeot Sport is trying to optimise its strategy on track, problem solve during races, and make efficiency gains off track to find performance advantages in this Balance of Performance category.
The relationship with Capgemini and its AI functionality started after the initial design process of the car had been completed. Peugeot Sport created the 9X8 in digital form, comprising 51GB of data and more than 15,000 files. This is not huge, but the ability to analyse each packet of data and process how designed parts would react in the real world was the job of artificial intelligence, backed up by the company’s engineers.
Since the digital model was first created, the team has worked with Capgemini to increase its digital knowledge of the car, and have that learning reach into all aspects of the project. Using artificial intelligence, the company aims to eventually reduce the carbon impact of racing in line with the FIA’s stated targets for teams, as well as find performance opportunities hidden from the BoP.
Further, Capgemini and the Stellantis Group are aiming to use the learnings of the Hypercar Le Mans programme to improve the efficiency of production car technology.
