Animation Research Ltd

Thursday March 26, 2009

Dunedin computer graphics company Animation Research Ltd has taken the chequered flag in a race to win a contract to provide graphics for this year’s Formula One series for the BBC.

The contract is a coup for the company, as it hooks up with what managing director Ian Taylor called “a major, major event”. “To be delivering this from Dunedin, let alone New Zealand… it’s a big deal,” he said.

Staff had been working 16- to 18-hour days to put together a graphics package for Sunday’s Formula One season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, and yesterday, Mr Taylor proudly showed off the fruits of their labour. That included a detailed 3-D depiction of the Melbourne track and, as the series progressed, it was hoped data from the vehicles would be used for graphics showing lines the drivers took; where they accelerated; braked; their speed; gear choices, and the G-forces they had to deal with. As well, commentators would be able to “drive” the virtual cars during analysis before or after race coverage, choosing the lines they would take into corners, and how they might have dealt with crashes.

The contract had stretched the limits of the company, as it worked to “build” 17 virtual tracks, as well as all the vehicles involved, their drivers, and had a level of detail down to bumps on the track. “We said the time-frame could not be done; they said that’s not an option. In the end, if they say they want it done, it’s got to be done. Our job was to put everything we could into it to get it done on time.”

Mr Taylor said the company heard the good news just before Christmas and seven staff had worked “flat out” since then. Once Melbourne had been completed, staff would begin work on Kuala Lumpur, then the rest of the tracks used in the series. Staff members were already overseas photographing the tracks. The detail was important, from showing reflections on water to getting the track measured to the millimetre.

He said he was unable to disclose the cost of the contract, but its success had hinged on personal relationships he had forged with members of a major F1 racing team. That team had recommended the company for the job, and data it was providing had proved invaluable in completing it.

Taylor’s triumphs

Computer graphics for:

• Every America’s Cup since 1992.

• New Zealand cricket since 2000, including ball tracking for the first umpire review.

• Graphics for major golfing events, including Ryder Cup, US Open, British Open.

• Multimillion-dollar development in 2004 to build training simulators for air-traffic controllers for the Airways Corporation of New Zealand.

Article by David Loughrey, courtesy of the Otago Daily Times

You can view some short clips of our F1 animation here.