What can combustion engine developers do?

Advanced research on internal combustion engines requires the ability to develop and validate dedicated control strategies, adapting the system to the specific objectives of each project.

To achieve this, calibrating predefined functions is not enough. Developers need to work directly on the control logic, integrate proprietary algorithms and manage engine and vehicle components in real time.

An open Rapid Control Prototyping platform makes it possible to translate these requirements into real, working applications.

An open environment for developing customized strategies

SPARK is the Rapid Control Prototyping platform developed by Alma Automotive for prototyping, research and advanced engine control development.

The Real-Time and FPGA code is fully accessible, allowing users to read, modify or replace the available functions and develop strategies tailored to their application.

This enables activities such as:

• developing customized control algorithms;
• managing injection and ignition;
• controlling fuel pressure and throttle;
• implementing innovative control strategies for engines powered by alternative fuels;
• developing strategies based on combustion parameters;
• integrating Simulink® models.

A configuration ready for engine and vehicle control

Development freedom does not mean building the entire control system from scratch.

SPARK combines a National Instruments® platform with hardware developed by Alma Automotive, already configured to manage sensors, actuators, injection and ignition systems, and the main communication interfaces.

Researchers can therefore start from a proven architecture and focus their resources on developing and validating their own control strategies.

Development autonomy, with no license costs

Code accessibility allows users to maintain full control over the development process and customize the platform independently.

No license costs (*) also reduce the constraints associated with project evolution, especially in research programs that require frequent modifications, new configurations and further experimental activities.

Support from Alma Automotive engineers

An open platform offers maximum flexibility, but engine control requires cross-disciplinary expertise in hardware, software, calibration, combustion and testing.

For this reason, Alma Automotive supports customers in defining the architecture, customizing the functions, and developing and validating the application. Customers can work independently or involve Alma Automotive engineers in the most complex phases of the project.

From research to application

SPARK gives laboratories, universities and development teams access to:

• fully customizable code;
• hardware already configured for engine and vehicle control;
• functions that can be used as a starting point;
• compatibility with the main calibration tools;
• no license costs (*);
• specialized engineering support.

This allows teams working on advanced internal combustion engine research to focus on the real objective: developing, testing and validating new control strategies on a real system.

(*) LabVIEW environment excluded.

Discover SPARK and explore the platform’s capabilities.

Visit the SPARK product page

Racing Performance Analysis by Alma Automotive

In motorsport, every millisecond can make a difference. During the 2025 MotoGP season, Alma Automotive’s Racing Performance Analysis (RPA) department supported teams in managing performance, providing advanced data acquisition and analysis tools to optimize on-track performance and benchmark against key competitors.

Our approach to performance

Alma Automotive offers a complete support to teams through three main lines:

• On-track activities: data acquisition during sessions and immediate reporting available to engineers during on-track activities.
• Remote support: a dedicated team analyzes data in real time, providing insights and reports useful for debriefing sessions.
• Post-race analysis: after the race weekend, critical points are examined to identify areas for improvement, trends, and opportunities for upcoming races.

This approach allows collected data to be transformed into actionable technical guidance, enabling targeted interventions on lines, braking, corner entry, and vehicle dynamics.

Turning data into technical direction – Case Study

During the 2025 MotoGP season, the RPA department monitored a reference rider across 10 Grand Prix, including iconic circuits such as Austin (USA), Silverstone (UK), Mugello (Italy), and Assen (Netherlands), revealing a recurring pattern:

• Immediate improvements after each analyzed session: consistent reduction in lap time gaps, more efficient lines, more stable braking, and higher average stability.
• Linear progression throughout the weekend: FP1 → PR → Qualifying → Sprint → Race, with optimization visible from the first sessions following the reports.
• Key sectors: the corrections had the greatest impact in the most technically challenging corners and in areas of high instability, confirming the ability of video analysis to highlight issues not visible through telemetry data.

How video analysis impacted a typical weekend

Across the 10 Grand Prix, Alma Automotive processed over 4264 seconds of video, approximately 71 minutes in total. With 8 riders monitored per session, this volume corresponds to 41 laps fully reconstructed using only high-resolution video analysis.

These data enabled a continuous flow of insights, immediately applicable during the weekend, improving the speed of technical decisions and the effectiveness of team interventions.

Real-time insights for on-track decisions

Alma Automotive’s advanced video analysis allows teams to:

• Provide immediately actionable analysis
• Offer precise corner-by-corner feedback
• Conduct visual comparisons with top references
• Reduce data interpretation time
• Accelerate strategic decisions during the weekend

In 8 out of 10 races, the pattern was consistent: analysis → improved next session, coherent, measurable, and repeatable.

Systematic improvements through video analysis

After each session analyzed by the RPA department, the reference rider demonstrated:

• Consistent reduction in gap to best lap
• More efficient lines
• More consistent braking
• More stable average speed
• Linear progression throughout the weekend

Video analysis not only describes data but also guides corrections and informs technical decisions, ensuring effective and measurable interventions to maximize on-track performance.

Reliable data, actionable analysis, and continuous technical support translated into faster decisions and measurable improvements throughout the 2025 MotoGP season.

When data becomes performance, every detail counts.