Technology & Racing: GE's Racing Involvement

http://ge.geglobalresearch.com/blog/ge-technology-is-on-the-race-track-with-highcroft-car-racing/

GE Technology is on the Race Track with Highcroft Racing

Here at GE Global Research, we are continually developing the next generation of technology. While we work very closely with our businesses to ensure that what we create can make it into a real product, often we have to be clever in finding suitable venues or platforms to actually validate that the technology delivers the functionality in the chosen product environment. At times, we need to find test platforms that suitably mimic the true application in areas such as shock, vibration and temperature.
To help do this, several of the technologist at Global Research, are working with an external partner, Highcroft Racing.  Highcroft Racing participates in the American Le Mans Series, where they run what is called an LMP car or Le Mans Prototype.  The prototypes contain the latest racing technology and can travel in excess of 200 mph.  The great aspect of this class of vehicles in the ALMS is that while there are specifications or rules for safety and competition, the racing series allows participants to utilize new technology advances.   Therefore, Global Research  and Highcroft Racing can derive mutual benefits: Global Research can test several of our latest advances and Highcroft can race a better car.   GE is not in the race car business, but the types of technology that we are testing have broad applications for a number of our businesses.
The technologies, such as new materials, coatings, sensors, and control algorithms will help enhance the performance of everything from aviation systems to wind turbines and more.  Other areas are being defined as this partnership progresses.  One current example is an advanced optical sensor technology that Global Research has been developing for several years.  The sensors could give Highcroft new information to help fine tune their vehicle dynamics for the specific track.  For GE, the opportunity to demonstrate and collect system performance in the challenging shock and vibrational environment of Highcroft’s race car would give much needed information for potential applications in GE’s gas turbine or aircraft engine products.
How cool is it to be able to develop game-changing technology for GE and work with a cool application such as the racing in the American Le Mans Series.