By Max Kingsley-Jones in Woking
BAE Systems is expanding its long-running partnership with racing team McLaren-Mercedes to enable it to use Formula 1 cars as research and development platforms to develop technologies for future projects, such as unmanned air vehicles and missiles.
The UK aerospace company is coming to the end of its second five-year contract as a McLaren technology partner, and is now in negotiations for the next contract.
Malcolm Roberts, BAE Systems technology manager partnerships, MoD and research agencies, expects more of a two-way flow of technical information in the future between the two organisations.
“In the first phase, BAE engineers were seconded to McLaren and worked in its aerodyamics department,” says Roberts. “We also assisted with the development of McLaren’s racing car simulator and a ‘virtual pitwall’,” he adds.
“BAE engineers have worked with us on the sort of projects that we’d like to do, but don’t have the time to pursue,” says Philip Adey, McLaren’s head of aerodynamic operations.
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Speaking at the team’s Woking headquarters, Roberts said that BAE has also provided assistance with non-destructive testing, sensors and fuel tank hydromechanics: “For example we developed a sensor that looked at temperatures across each tyre during testing.”
Roberts says that for the next contract, which is due to start in January, the two sides are “discussing ways of feeding back into BAE’s engineering side”. This would see “McLaren used as a test vehicle” for potential technologies for projects under development by BAE’s Air Systems division. “Ideas like rapid engineering prototyping and direct writing of electrical circuitry on to surfaces will be tested, which could be utilised in UAVs or missiles,” says Roberts.
Source: Flight International
