"Real Virtuality" platform encourages students and interested people in continual learning at pandemic

The coronavirus surges around the world have caused havoc to the international sports calendar. Events have been held behind closed gates, while the postponements and cancellations of major sporting events have been seen on the news. It proves difficult for organisers to predict a time when everything is back to normal. For local start-up Formula Square, there has hardly been competition since the outbreak of the pandemic. However, the company encourages members of the public, including students, to make the most of this time to get adequately prepared for future races.

Member of the Cyberport incubation programme, Formula Square organises model car competition on its self-developed platform and facilities. Just like genuine motor racing, the competitions are contested by teams of various organisational sizes. Contesting teams comprised of model car drivers, mechanics and software specialists. Prior to the suspension of sporting events, these highly popular competitions were mostly held in custom-made facilities in Cyberport, and at other privately-owned public spaces.

While the competition has been suspended, Formula Square used its existing platform to devise learning programmes for students with a focus on robotics, as well as software and coding engineering, in an attempt to encourage interested people in making progress in making real, mechanical model cars more competitive. At the same time, Formula Square took the time to develop a new control system, so that in future the platform can be further promoted to a wider community.

Company Profile

Operated since early 2019, Formula Square is a platform responsible for organising and developing "real virtuality" competition. This novel term is used to distinguish it from ‘virtual reality’ where a digital platform is the core technology. In "real virtuality" racing, contestants compete against each other via visual delivered real-time on the platform, using real, mechanical model cars subject to continuous development. In addition to catering to the needs of individuals, Formula Square has also organised events for corporate clients, and has been taking both local and overseas enquiries, about the possibilities of jointly promoting the platform in and beyond Hong Kong.