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F1 tech is about to make its way to supermarket fridges
For over four decades, Williams has maintained its reputation as one of the leading names in Formula 1. In years past, illustrious racers including Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve topped drivers' championship leaderboards with help from a Williams car. But with successes now few and far between, the company has looked to its innovation arm, Williams Advanced Engineering, to convert its racing smarts into new technologies in the aerospace, defense and energy sectors.The division has already landed a contract to design the power and data platforms for the British Army's armored vehicles, but it's also spent the better part of a year developing a new way to help supermarkets keep your fresh food cool before you buy it -- and it may soon come to a store near you.
Formula 1 aerodynamics will make grocery stores more efficient
No, that's not a typo. It turns out Formula 1 racing technology, specifically aerodynamics, can help rid grocery stores of the so-called "cold aisle" issue. Using aerofoils that are designed to guide the direction of air flow around a race car, Williams F1's engineering department and UK start-up Aerofoil Engery aim to keep the cool temps inside the open refrigerators at the market. The aerofoils attach to each shelf, guiding the cold air so that not only is that section more comfy for shoppers, but energy use is reduced as well. In fact, Sainsbury's, the second largest grocery store chain in the UK, is already testing the tech. "This Formula 1 inspired innovation has already shown it can cut carbon produced by major refrigerators," said John Skelton, the retailer's head of refrigeration. The project is still in the testing phase, so if could be a while before its ready for widespread installation.
