Capgemini and America’s Cup Media have unveiled WindSight IQ, the product innovation they will bring to the broadcast of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup as part of their global partnership announced earlier this year. For the first time, viewers and race commentators will be able to see the wind and its variations on the race course in real time. In addition, a yacht simulator will use the wind data and calculate the optimal routes around the course, allowing commentators and viewers to predict what the teams should do on the water or analyse how teams could have won a race. A masterpiece of engineering and design, WindSight IQ means commentators and viewers will have more data and insight into the pinnacle event in international sailing than is available to competing teams on the water.

Viewing habits are changing. A recent study by Capgemini Research Institute found that 84 percent of fans say new technologies have improved their overall viewing experience. With 77 percent of Gen Z and 75 percent of Millennials preferring to watch sporting events outside of live events, the on-screen viewing experience is more important than ever. Wind patterns are a key factor in sailing that can change the course of a race and make the difference between winning and losing. For the first time, these wind patterns are displayed and visualized by WindSight IQ, adding a whole new dimension to the racing experience for fans and broadcasters.

“WindSight IQ is an innovation that America’s Cup Media has been evaluating for a long time. Our goal was to make another quantum leap in the use of technology to improve the understanding of sailing and the intricacies that sailors at the top of our sport must master. But to achieve our goal, we needed to find a partner that was equally motivated to push the boundaries of technology and innovation, which Capgemini clearly was. So for the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, WindSight IQ is a significant step forward in the perception of our sport,” explains Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events.

“Four elements determine the race winner: the boat design, the team, the water and the wind. Before and during the race, commentators can now see the wind patterns in real time and explain to viewers the options for the competing yachts. The ability to see the invisible wind and compare the teams’ actual performances and tactical decisions with the optimal routes means that the audience can follow and engage with the race on a whole new level. We are really looking forward to the impact WindSight IQ will have on the spectator experience of this year’s Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.”

Due to the technical challenge, no one has been able to accurately demonstrate the visualization of wind in real-time under yacht racing conditions – until now. Capgemini and America’s Cup Media, the event’s host broadcaster, are combining their expertise in technology, engineering, data and design and will use LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), sensor fusion and scientific calculations to display the wind in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) graphics. The wind field data will also be fed into a yacht simulator in real-time and used to create a live “ghost boat” simulation that can be projected onto the race course using AR and VR graphics, showing the optimal path that crews should take given measured variations in wind pressure, wind shear, orientation and speed.

To accurately capture raw wind data, three LiDARs were positioned along Barcelona’s waterfront overlooking the race track, scanning the entire race area. Each LiDAR has an average scanning range of 6.5 km to a maximum of 12 km and measures wind speeds of up to 38 m/s (73 knots) every 1.5 meters from 0 to 12 km with an accuracy of

“Through technological innovations that combine laser sensor technology with advanced engineering and new visualization techniques, WindSight IQ brings the digital and physical worlds together,” explains Keith Williams, Capgemini’s Chief Engineer for WindSight IQ. “The wind plays a critical role in the decisions teams make during the race and through visualization, viewers can now see and understand the detailed pattern of wind speed and direction on the race course, as well as the best possible routes. The key challenge of this innovation is to combine engineering and design; to accurately capture the complex patterns of the wind while presenting them in a way that fans and commentators can easily see and understand. Our goal is to make coverage of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup more engaging and immersive than ever before.”

WindSight IQ is a turnkey solution developed, built and operated through a partnership between America’s Cup Media and Capgemini, combining technology, engineering, data and design expertise to provide America’s Cup Media’s broadcast systems with real-time wind field visualizations and AR/VR designs. The three LiDARs used as part of the solution are supplied by LUMIBIRD.