When asked what you wish your secret superpower could be, were you ever tempted by the thought of being able to read minds?
Now, whilst we might be a little way off being able to detect individual thoughts, groundbreaking research being carried out on future Formula One racing drivers using state of the art technology along with developments in neuroscience and big data, could prove powerful enough to predict elite driver performance.
“Elite performers can make use of data feedback with a level of detail that has never been possible before”
Helping to make this happen is Bath-based predictive people analytics company, Cognisess who – along with creators of a brain-sensing headband Muse – has developed the world’s first EEG racing helmet. This allows live streaming of the drivers’ brain waves to the pit crew, giving real-time information on the driver’s state of mind and level of concentration.
Cognisess’ Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Boris Altemeyer, says: “This research brings cutting edge technology into an environment where elite performers can make use of data feedback with a level of detail that has never been possible before. Bringing together our Deep Learn machine learning, cognitive performance assessments, and real-time monitoring in the actual performance setting will allow us to help athletes push the performance benchmarks and reduce risks drastically.”
The future of Formula One
Working with young drivers at Arden Motorsport and the Young Racing Driver Academy (YRDA), the research programme has already seen the introduction of live-stream EEG technology in simulator environments and full integration of the Cognisess analytics platform to monitor performance.
“The potential to optimise brain function could be the new advantage in the sport”
Jon Pitts, a High-Performance coach to elite athletes, adds: “This project represents a new angle on elite sport focusing on the brain as the central driver of performance. It is only possible through the combined cutting edge technology of motor racing and the Cognisess platform, and we can now measure the brain in action and compare this to the telematics data coming from the simulators and cars. Overall it allows us to optimise the learning, skill development and performance of our YRDA and Arden young drivers.
“Today’s F1 cars are doing things almost instantaneously and the driver’s brains are under extreme pressure to process this information. In light of next season’s technical changes, intended to make the cars even faster, the potential to optimise brain function could be the new advantage in the sport”
Find out more about Cognisess and follow the progress of the research by checking out the Cognisess website or follow them on Twitter: @cognisess.
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[Image credit: YRDA]
