ERC
AI Safety Camera makes successful debut in ERC
A major safety innovation from governing body the FIA was deployed for the first time when the 2025 FIA European Rally Championship got under way in Spain earlier this month.
The FIA-developed Artificial Intelligence Safety Camera (AISC) is a state-of-the-art system that represents a significant step forward in rally safety and is designed to enhance spectator protection across the discipline.
With rallying one of the most challenging environments in motorsport for managing spectator safety, with stages often extending across remote terrain for tens of kilometres, the AISC has been developed to meet these challenges, offering rally officials real-time, stage-level insight into spectator locations.
AISC offers officials real-time, stage-level insight into fan locations
© FIA
Mounted on competing cars, the system uses AI-powered human detection to identify spectators along the stage route, including those moving into unsafe areas during the rally. As competing cars pass through the stage, the system captures spectator locations and processes this data instantly, transmitting alerts to event officials so that pre-emptive safety measures can be taken before the next competitor arrives.
At the heart of the AISC is a self-sustaining, GPU-enabled camera connected to a processing unit that performs on-board image analysis and detects unsafe spectator positions. The unit filters the data and transmits it to a web-based user interface, where snapshots of unsafe scenes are received. This enables the chief safety officer to pinpoint the location of spectators in hazardous areas and resolve issues via an advanced issue management system.
The AISC allows safety officials to identify and address potential risks before they escalate, offering a level of real-time oversight that would be impossible through manual monitoring alone.
The device has the biggest potential to improve spectator safety on regional and national events. These championships will, therefore, be the primary focus following the ongoing analysis of the first real-world deployment in the ERC.
Following its successful debut, the AISC is set to become a key component of the FIA’s rally safety toolkit.
This system is here to protect firstly the spectators, and also the sport itself
FIA safety director, Nuno Costa, said: “Spectator safety is fundamental to rallying. With stages often taking place in remote, unpredictable environments, ensuring that fans are in safe locations is both a challenge and a responsibility. The introduction of the AI Safety Camera allows us to take a huge leap forward in how we monitor and manage risk during events.
"This technology isn’t about restricting fans, it’s about protecting them. It allows organisers and officials to respond rapidly and ultimately allows them to prevent accidents before they happen.”
Officials can identify potential risks before they escalate thanks to AISC
© FIA
FIA Road Sport director, Emilia Abel, said: “We have very high levels of sophistication and systems at the world championship levels, and it is very important for us that safety – and particularly spectator safety – is something we continue to develop at the grassroots, national and regional level as well.
“Rally is perhaps the most spectacular form of motorsport, and there is nothing quite like being on a stage watching rally cars in action. We want to make sure spectators can enjoy the sport safely, and the AI Safety Camera can make a real difference by giving organisers a new tool that provides real-time safety information on their events.
“Our message is clearly that this system is here to protect firstly the spectators, and also the sport itself, as we want to see rallying continue to grow and thrive as we move into an exciting new era in the coming years.”
The 42nd Rally Sierra Morena - Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad took place from 4-6 April as a new addition to the ERC schedule.
