Next-gen racing tech to take center stage at Formula 1

SILVERSTONE, OHIO, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Silverstone, best known as the home of Formula One, is also the proving ground for student engineers developing the next generation of racing technology.

The event, part of the Formula Student AI series, sees teams from universities around the world test their prototypes on the Silverstone track. Sharkey spoke with the participants, who explained how they use artificial‑intelligence algorithms to optimise vehicle dynamics and decision‑making during high‑speed runs. The competition is a key platform for students to apply academic learning to real‑world engineering challenges.

In a separate technology‑focused initiative, Ohio Tech Day is being celebrated across the state on Friday. The statewide event, organised by OhioX in partnership with Meta, brings hands‑on technology experiences to classrooms, campuses and community spaces. The day is designed to expose students to careers in technology and to show them how they can build a future in the field without leaving Ohio.

At Miami University, a humanoid robot is handing out stickers to visitors. In Wintersville, high‑school students are leading workshops for their classmates on cybersecurity and AI. In Canal Winchester, elementary students are exploring LEGOs, coding and robotics. In Bowling Green, teenagers are using Meta Quest headsets to explore technology careers. All of these activities are part of Ohio Tech Day, which is being held across the state today.

OhioX launched Ohio Tech Day six years ago with Meta as its presenting sponsor. The goal of the event is to help students see technology careers they could build without leaving Ohio. Since its inception, the initiative has grown into a statewide movement that involves schools, colleges, companies and community groups. The premise is that Ohio’s ambitions as a technology hub depend, in part, on whether its students can picture themselves doing the work.

At some schools, students are moving beyond learning what AI can do to trying it for themselves. At Upper Arlington High School and Choices High School in Canton, students are taking on aiEDU’s Building with AI: Student Design Challenge. They identify a real problem, describe a solution in plain language, and use AI to build a digital prototype.

At Indian Creek High School in Wintersville, ten students helped plan the day’s activities and are leading mini‑workshops for their peers on cybersecurity, data protection, approved AI tools and effective prompting. “One of the biggest differences this year is that the students are taking the lead,” Dave Moffat, the school’s career‑technical education head, told WTRF. He added that, alongside the technical subjects, students get to practice explaining ideas, collaborating and presenting to others.

Other events let students examine the machines and infrastructure that make technology possible. Mansfield Christian School students are showcasing robotics and 3D‑printing projects. At The Academies at Jackson Center in Dayton, students are taking apart damaged computers and examining a gaming computer. The kickoff at Bowling Green State University brought several of those paths together.

Hosted by OhioX with Meta’s Bowling Green Data Center, BGSU and Be Pro Be Proud, it gave high‑school students a chance to explore careers through Meta Quest virtual reality experiences and the future of technology.