Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Faster and More Efficient Thanks to the Digital Twin

At the Formula E race in Berlin, we had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Dr. Kay Müller-Jones. He is the Head of Consulting and Services Integration at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and gave us exciting virtual insights and backgrounds into the Jaguar pit and the Briton’s series program: The applications developed so far by TCS include a new cloud-based platform for data analysis and software of the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 electric race car; the new cloud platform based on Amazon Web Service (AWS) provides Jaguar TCS Racing with timely access to data that is crucial for performance on the racetrack.

Digital Twins on the Digital Racetrack

The Jaguar TCS Racing Team also relies on digital twins of the racing cars with the help of TCS’s cloud technology – these allow simulations with reliable tests, analyses, and validations, which are transferred from the virtual world to the real one. The TCS applications around the racetrack also provide valuable insights into how cloud computing can improve the performance and connectivity of electric vehicles.

These data can now be evaluated and transferred to the production models: From this emerged a software with dynamic route planning that reacts in real-time to changes, thereby improving the experience and safety of drivers and pedestrians as well as vehicle performance. More specifically, this led to an increase in the range of the Jaguar I-Pace: Thanks to the TCS software, Jaguar Land Rover has already managed to increase the range of the Jaguar I-Pace – directly transferring insights from the racetrack to the performance of road vehicles.

We wanted to know more about it and visited the Jaguar-TCS-Racing-Team in Berlin for the E-Prix. What software is capable of was demonstrated by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Jaguar on the first race day of the FIA Formula E Grand Prix in Berlin – where the team achieved a double victory. Shortly before, we spoke with Dr. Kay Müller-Jones, Head of Consulting and Services Integration TCS, and took a look behind the scenes, respectively into the pit.

Mr. Müller-Jones, hardware is important, but software is likely to become even more important in the future?

Müller-Jones: The fact is that evaluating data during racing operations is crucial for competition, and they are becoming increasingly extensive – they are virtually brought to life in IT. This happens on the racetrack almost in real-time but can also of course be applied to production vehicles and manufacturing. What is exciting about simulation programs are the possibilities of calculating or simulating extreme scenarios, which is extremely helpful on the Formula E racetrack.

How should one imagine this?

Müller-Jones: Part of the team is on-site, another part in the UK. They work with the data in the digital twin of the race car and can perform necessary calculations or forecasts for the team. They are supported by AI, which analyzes incoming data and helps the engineers in their decision-making. The results then have to be available on the racetrack within minutes.

And in everyday life?

Müller-Jones (smiling): One would have a bit more time. Think of topics like “Predictive Maintenance” or utilizing available battery capacity…

…which Jaguar has already increased in the I-Pace for this reason?

Müller-Jones: Correct. Through the Cloud-Human-Machine system, we can, for example, calculate various discharge cycles – even under extreme conditions – and gain new insights, which are then made available to users as quickly as possible. In the future, we will therefore talk about “Software-Defined Cars” that are networked through an extensible software platform over their entire product lifecycle and can thus be updated continuously. For example, new additional services can be offered that increase comfort or safety or simplify the operation for the user. This brings us to the topic of “AI as a Service,” as AI-based services will certainly become an increasingly important part of this service portfolio.

Do we still need humans at all?

Müller-Jones (laughs): Absolutely! Only humans can create creative questions and connections. For example, how best to use them or how to employ intelligent algorithms most effectively. Ultimately, it is about using AI for the benefit and advantage of humans.

Do you have an example?

Müller-Jones: Besides the race happening here next to us, for instance, there are production lines that can be adjusted to new products faster and more efficiently. AI's learning experience helps in continuously optimizing things and recognizing error patterns, which assists in predictive maintenance—a feature especially appreciated by fleet managers. In the aviation industry, this is already standard. In most cases mentioned, a cloud guarantees the necessary security and, above all, the scalability in utilizing the typically computation-intensive AI-based services.

So, will humans become redundant?

Müller-Jones: Caution: Self-learning does not mean creative: The system can collect, evaluate, connect data, and recognize patterns. But how all this should happen and which question should be addressed must always be specified by humans, which is why humans will remain the most crucial component in the overall system. I dare to make this prediction without having to be an oracle!

About the person: Dr. Kay Müller-Jones is Managing Partner and Head of Consulting & Services Integration at Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) in Germany. Before his role at TCS, he held various leadership positions in the technology and IT consulting industry. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hamburg. His particular professional interest is in the opportunities of digitalization and its benefits for businesses and society.

The interview was conducted by Gregor Soller