Best realtime visualization of telemetry sensors for motorsport
Tags: motorsport, sensors, visualization, webdev
Published: 2024-03-13 15:02:39

With more than 300 sensors used on a Formula 1 racecar, it’s crucial to be able to handle the high volumes of real-time data. Averaging at 3 Terabytes per race, it’s vital to have no slow down and have data visualizations that can keep up.

Metrics from the speedometer gauge, to the RPM gauge and tire pressure all need to be monitored, and with real-time precision. Now more than ever, it’s easy for data handling and visualization to become a blocker to progress on the track.

With advancements in data technology, you can display even more data together, overlapping the feedback from different sensors to create new insights. That’s what’s driving the F1 teams of today!

It’s the visibility that the leading F1 teams, data analysts and race engineers need to amplify performance. In this guide, we’re sharing a handful of the charts that are used across motorsport, from student teams all the way up to the top winning teams.
<h2>Lap Analysis Dashboard</h2>
<img src="https://www.scichart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/revolvegif.gif" />

<strong>Speedometer Gauge:</strong> Capture a real-time visualization of the vehicle's speed. This sensor visualization displays the current speed in miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (km/h), allowing the driver and pit crew to monitor the vehicle's velocity.

<strong>RPM Gauge:</strong> Show the engine's rotational speed in real-time. It helps the driver and engineers track the engine's performance, ensuring it operates within the optimal range and avoiding over-revving or potential mechanical issues.

<strong>Temperature Graph:</strong> A temperature graph displays real-time data from various sensors monitoring critical temperatures, such as engine coolant, oil, and exhaust temperatures. It allows the pit crew to identify any anomalies or potential overheating issues, helping them make informed decisions during the race.

<strong>Tire Pressure Monitor:</strong> A tire pressure monitor visualizes real-time data from sensors embedded in the tires. It provides a graphical representation of the tire pressure, enabling the pit crew to monitor and adjust the pressures as needed, ensuring optimal grip and performance.

<strong>G-Force Meter:</strong> A G-force meter shows the lateral and longitudinal forces acting on the vehicle during acceleration, braking, and cornering. It provides a visual representation of the forces experienced by the driver, helping them understand the limits of the car's performance and assisting engineers in optimizing suspension and aerodynamic setups.
<h2>What about the specific charts?</h2>
Data analysts will want to be able to display the various data using the optimum chart type. Dashboards help bring all that data together, and the lap comparison relays performance in real-time, enabling analysts to compare the different laps second-by-second. This helps to determine what factors may have impacted any slow-down in performance, or even what might have contributed to an exceptional, record-beating lap.

The following charts can isolate specific data or combine multivariate data to open up insights that help drive improved performance on the track.
<h2>Assess overall performance across dimensions: Discover the charts below</h2>
<h3>Radar Charts</h3>
<img src="https://www.scichart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/scichart-wpf-chart-example-using-radar-chart.jpg" />

Also known as spider charts, <a href="https://www.scichart.com/example/wpf-chart/wpf-chart-example-using-radar-chart/">radar charts</a> display multivariate data. It’s used to display cornering performance, comparing various factors such as G-force, speed and steering angle. These are plotted on separate axes.
<h3>Histograms</h3>
<img src="https://www.scichart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/scichart-wpf-chart-example-histogram.jpg" />

Histograms display the frequency and distribution of telemetry data. Histograms can be leveraged to analyze data like engine temperature ranges, brake temperatures or throttle positions, providing insights into performance characteristics and potential areas for improvement.
<h3>Scatter Plots</h3>
<img src="https://www.scichart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/scichart-wpf-chart-example-scatter-chart.jpg" />

Motorsport teams often use <a href="https://www.scichart.com/example/wpf-chart/wpf-scatter-chart-example/">scatter plots</a> to examine the correlation between two variables, such as tire temperature and grip levels, or between suspension settings and lap times. This helps race analysts identify optimal configurations.
<h3>Bar or Column Charts</h3>
<img src="https://www.scichart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/scichart-wpf-chart-example-column-chart.jpg" />

Bar or <a href="https://www.scichart.com/example/wpf-chart/wpf-chart-example-column-chart/">column charts</a> enable easy visual comparisons of different data points or variables. In motorsport, this can include tire pressures, fuel consumption, or lap times for multiple drivers or sessions, enabling easy visual comparison.
<h3>Line Charts</h3>
<img src="https://www.scichart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/scichart-wpf-chart-example-line-chart.jpg" />

<a href="https://www.scichart.com/example/wpf-chart/wpf-line-chart-example/">Line charts</a> are used to represent time-series data, such as speed, RPM, temperature, and lap times. They show how these variables change over time, allowing analysts to identify trends, patterns and anomalies.
<h3>Find a charting library that’s built for motorsport</h3>
These charts are available from many open-source companies. However, not all charting software solutions are created equal. To get the reliable, realtime, big data handling that you’re looking for, there are only a handful of platforms that can deliver.

SciChart leverages gaming technology with an in-house built rendering engine to deliver powerful charting solutions that generate new insights in real-time - That’s why our JavaScript and <a href="https://www.scichart.com/wpf-chart-features/">WPF charting library</a> is trusted by top names in the <a href="https://www.scichart.com/why-scichart-best-for-motosport-and-automotive/">motorsport industry</a>, including leading F1 teams.