America's Cup Makes Wind Visible for TV Viewers

Fans watching the 37th America’s Cup on TV will for the first time be able to observe a critical but invisible part of the sport that previously was only discernible by the sailors themselves: the wind.

Multinational consultancy Capgemini and America’s Cup Media teamed to create WindSightIQ, a program that uses light detection and ranging (lidar), sensor fusion and scientific computation to show the wind in augmented reality and virtual reality graphics, which can be displayed on screen during broadcasts of the races, which began last month and last through October. 

The wind field data collected by WindSightIQ is also fed into a yacht simulator to create a “ghost boat” that can be projected onto the racecourse to show the optimal paths the crews should take based on wind variables like direction, speed, sheer and pressure. The data is not available to the boat crews, who must rely on their instincts and training to plot the fastest routes, much as their predecessors have done since the event began in 1851. 

“Before and during the race, commentators will now be able to see the real-time wind patterns and explain to the viewers the options for the competing yachts,” said Grant Dalton, CEO of the Americas Cup Event. “Being able to see the unseen wind and compare teams’ actual performances and tactical decisions to the optimum routes will mean audiences can follow and engage in the racing on a whole new level.”

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The 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona will see teams from France, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States compete in a series of races — the Challenger Selection Series — to determine who goes on to face the current title holder, New Zealand, in the America’s Cup Match in October.

To capture the wind data, three lidar units, produced by French laser company Lumibird, were positioned along the waterfront to scan the entire racecourse. Each unit measures wind speeds up to 73 knots every 4.9 feet for up to 7 miles. This information is supplemented by wind data collected from sensors on the yachts themselves, as well as on the buoys that mark the course. WindSight then fuses the data streams using “innovative algorithms” to project a wind field over the entire racecourse, Capgemini said. 

“Through technological innovation, combining laser sensor technology with advanced engineering and new visualization techniques, WindSight IQ brings together the digital and physical worlds,” said Keith Williams, Capgemini’s chief engineer for WindSight. “The core challenge of this innovation lies in combining both engineering and design; accurately capturing the intricate patterns of the wind and also portraying it in a way that fans and commentators can easily see and understand.”

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