Buggyra on the cutting edge of the latest trends. Artificial intelligence aids in designing the new Tatra
The Tatra Buggyra ZM Racing team is preparing a brand new Tatra truck for the Dakar Rally in January 2024. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is assisting the design team in the complex development of the vehicle, a process that has also been significantly delayed due to the organizers' delays in implementing new rules.
"The plan to build a new truck was conceived two years ago. However, we delayed construction because the changes in the rules and homologations of the International Automobile Federation FIA for the Dakar were still being worked. The final version of the rules was only known this summer. It was only after that, that we implemented the last changes in the project and started building the car. This constitutes a delay of at least half a year compared to the worst-case scenario we had envisioned. Nevertheless, we will be running this car in January," Buggyra boss Martin Koloc is convinced.
The specialists are using the latest trends in design work, including artificial intelligence and virtual reality. "Artificial intelligence is involved in the optimization, we are also employing CFD (Computational Flight Dynamics) calculations. We use them for analyzing airflow, weight distribution, and body shape. Our goal is to maintain the DNA of the Tatra, even though it will be a front-engine car. We anticipate a significant performance improvement. We plan to commence testing at this year's Dakar, and we will begin building the second car in February after the Dakar 2024 evaluation," Koloc described the development of the new Tatra.
Buggyra's chief designer, David Vršecký, admitted that the AI innovation has provided him with a new perspective on building a race car. "You have to learn how to use AI correctly. The crucial factor is the task at hand. Our data is highly specific and complex, and only with the right input can you achieve a satisfactory result."
David playfully dismissed the notion that he could simply sit down at his computer, instruct the AI to "Design a Tatra truck to survive the Dakar Rally," and be done with it. On the other hand, all the ideas generated by the complex problem-solving system must be carefully evaluated by the design team. "It can lead you down the wrong path. I consider AI more as a friend who can offer advice, like a more advanced Google. It also depends on the data AI has access to. There are newer online libraries it can draw from," explained the racer and engineer.
"But you have to start somewhere. It can help us choose materials or perform complex calculations that we'd rather not tackle. We still need to have the main idea. AI can guide us in new directions for our ideas," said David Vršecký.
In addition to artificial intelligence, the Gravity Sketch virtual reality (VR) software is a significant asset. With it, the designer can visualize the truck using VR goggles as if it were already built. "The graphic designer created the external design of the truck. Viewing the truck in a 1:1 scale is certainly superior to a 3D model. The latter is somewhat illusory. This way, you can walk around the truck, inspect it from all angles, and identify any potential issues that might be obscured in 3D."
Thanks to these new innovations, everyone at Buggyra is also eagerly anticipating that the new Tatra will be ready in time for the start of the Dakar Rally in January 2024. "It's a significant endeavor. Our primary challenges arise from deliveries from external companies. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation has not improved significantly due to the current tense situation, and we are waiting for months, rather than weeks, for some parts or materials," explained Buggyra's chief designer.
The 46th edition of the Dakar Rally starts on 5 January 2024 and ends on 19 January. For the fifth time in its history, it will be held on the territory of Saudi Arabia, with 12 stages on the program. The Buggyra ZM Racing team will not only be represented in the truck category; where the final driver line-up will be announced in November. Aliyah Koloc will make her debut in the elite Ultimate class (formerly T1+) in the Red-Lined REVO T1+ special. She will be the only woman to take on such cross-country rally stars as Nasser Al-Attiyah, Carlos Sainz senior, and Sébastien Loeb after making her debut in the T3 class special this January.
