In the world of Formula Virtual, all eyes are on the 2024 newcomer Cyber Automata and their unique approach to conquering the top tier of motorsport. Eschewing traditional methods, the team relies solely on artificial intelligence to design and refine their contender for the season ahead. Yesterday, Cyber Automata, hailing from the UK, unveiled their maiden creation, the CAM-01, to the public gaze. As the motorsport fraternity eagerly awaits the commencement of pre-season testing, scrutiny intensifies: how does the CAM-01 compare to its adversaries in terms of performance and design? Front WingAs the new regulations were revealed, there was a lot of speculation as to how each team would go on to develop their cars. Concepts were drawn up showing a variety of different approaches. In terms of the front wing, many teams so far seemed to have split between two and three element wings, with more than half of the revealed cars opting for a more basic dual element front wing, whilst the likes of Downton, Phoenix and Lopez have opted for three. Bucking the trend altogether, Cyber Automata have launched with a fourth element. With an additional element, there is potential for the team to more finely tune the airflow of the car, and perhaps increase downforce as well. However, as with anything, there is always a trade off, and with an additional element, comes further complexities. The team will need to ensure that they fully understand this, or risk disrupting the airflow to the entire car. Chrome Finish A few hours after the launch of the CAM-01, early images were leaked of the team’s 2024 challenger, showing a predominantly white car, instead of the chrome finish that they eventually opted for. Whilst on the face of this, it appears to be a purely aesthetic design choice, some sources are indicating that there is more to this than meets the eye. If the rumours are to be believed, the in house AI, along with their engineers have developed a nano-textured chrome coating, specifically designed for application on carbon fibre surfaces. This coating utilises advanced nanotechnology to create microscopically small textures on the chrome surface. Prior to applying the chrome coating, the carbon fibre bodywork is infused with a specialised aerogel material. Aerogels are known for their incredibly low density and high porosity, which allows them to trap air molecules within their structure. The nano-textured chrome coating is engineered to be highly hydrophobic, repelling water and creating a thin layer of air between the surface and any moisture. This property helps to minimise the formation of water droplets or moisture accumulation on the bodywork during racing conditions. When the vehicle is in motion, the combination of the aerogel-infused carbon fibre and the hydrophobic chrome coating works synergistically to reduce drag. The textured surface disrupts the airflow, creating a boundary layer of air that flows smoothly over the bodywork, minimising turbulence and drag. Even if this is true, you’d imagine that the impact of such engineering would be somewhat small in the grand scheme of things, but it would also go to show the ingenuity that this team possesses and could set a precedent for the future of the sport. Rear WingOnce again, the new upstart team appears to be in the minority, joining Downton and Kowhai as the only teams so far that appear to have chosen a triple element rear wing, as opposed to the more traditional dual element. It follows a similar ethos to their choices made for their front wing, and shows that on the face of it, it at least appears as though the team’s AI has favoured optimal downforce over anything else. Interestingly, the leaked images did suggest that at one point the team were considering a quintuple element rear wing, but appear to have abandoned the concept, although there’s no telling whether the concept may return later in the season once the team has a better understanding of how their car performs. One final interesting note to make is that the only other team who has thus far chosen higher downforce elements on both of their wings is defending Champions Downton… EngineWhilst it’s not necessarily a major change from a technical standpoint, it may have gone unnoticed to some observers that the Honda badge was absent from the car reveal. The launch instead showed an Acura badge at the tip of the nose.
Acura is the luxury and performance division of Japanese automaker Honda, so whilst it’s not likely that there has been much upheaval in development, it’s certainly an interesting point to note.
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