rally

KDDI exhibited digital twin and other products at WRC Rally Japan

At the final round of the WRC (World Rally Championship) “Forum Eight Rally Japan 2023,” which was held over four days from November 16th to 19th, various companies held various exhibitions.

Mr. Tsuneharu Sato, President and Representative Director of Toyota Motor Corporation, was looking around the exhibits of each company. President Sato was in charge of guest hospitality and greeted various people.

I had a chance to talk with President Sato, and the topic that came up was the KDDI booth. KDDI’s booth will exhibit a next-generation viewing experience that utilizes digital technology. This uses high-precision positioning technology and advanced digital twin technology. President Sato recommended that “I would like you to introduce your efforts over there,” so I would like to introduce them here.

KDDI is working with Welpine Motorsports, which also participates in the WRC, to create a new way to enjoy motorsports using digital twins. Tsukuruma Circuit Nasu is reproduced with high-resolution digital data, and Welpine’s GR Yaris is also reproduced with high-precision digital data. Furthermore, by acquiring highly accurate position information using GNSS, the actual driving trajectory can be digitally reproduced.

This technology can also be used in car development, but KDDI is considering this technology for digital viewing, and is thinking that it could be used to improve SS viewing in the mountains, where it is difficult to get to, and where the number of spectators is limited.

KDDI Corporation Solution Business Headquarters Connected Business Headquarters Deputy General Manager and Business Design Headquarters Deputy General Manager Katsuhiko Arai

According to Katsuhiko Arai, Deputy General Manager of the KDDI Solution Business Headquarters, Connected Business Headquarters and Deputy General Manager of the Business Design Headquarters, who I spoke to at the booth, he said that driving can be recreated using a multi-camera solution, and that it would be interesting to use it on SS. He told me. This multi-camera solution uses a large number of cameras, so it may be difficult for long SSs, but it may be useful for short super SSs. Position estimation is also performed using multiple cameras, so you can see details such as changes in posture when placed in a particular corner.

KDDI supports SUPER GT car No. 36 au TOM’S GR Supra (Sho Tsuboi/Ritomo Miyata) under the “au” brand. In the WRC, we are working on new ways to enjoy motorsports that utilize connected technology, such as supporting Welpine with KDDI.

Day 2 of the final round of the WRC Rally Japan was held on November 17th. Day 2 began with SS2 Isegami’s Tunnel, a mountain stage, and the real rally began.

In this SS2, car No. 18 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) crashed. Although he crossed the finish line using a hybrid motor, he fell far behind.

At the end of SS2, the No. 33 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) took the lead. Elfyn Evans maintained this lead and finished Day 2 in first place.

Car No. 17 Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Landet (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) also took 2nd place in this SS2, and the Toyotas reversed their slow start in the Super SS on the mountain stage. Last year’s winner, car No. 11 Thierry Neuville/Martin Wiedega (Hyunde i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid), is in 3rd place.

Thierry Neuville was in second place overall in SS3, but retired for the day in SS6 in the afternoon. After SS6, car No. 69 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Haruttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid) moved up to 3rd place. Toyota cars dominated the top positions.

Takamoto Katsuta, who was late in SS2, had the top times in SS5, SS6, and SS7 after SS4, which was canceled due to maintenance on his machine, and was 2nd in SS8. Although he fell far behind at one point, he made his way back up to 9th place and finished the second day.