Triple Eight improves emergency ventilator
Supercars squad Triple Eight has unveiled a significantly improved version of the emergency field ventilator it has designed to help in the fight against COVID-19.

Dubbed 'The Conrod Project', T8 has continued to develop the compact, low-power ventilator prototype that it rolled out in late March.
The improved version features more detailed digital information and active responsiveness to patient breathing inputs.
There is also a motor racing-inspired 4G telemetry system, the data from which can be monitored in real time and then downloaded for further analysis later.
According to T8 team manager Mark Dutton, the updates have been made in line with advice from both the Therapeutic Goods Administration and personal consultation with medical professionals.
"The TGA has put together a specification document which has a ‘required’ list and a ‘desired’ list for Covid-19 ventilators," explained Dutton.
"Our ventilator is currently on track to satisfy both lists fully, but clearly would still need to be approved by the TGA if and when it goes into production.
“Today’s ICU ventilators have big graphical screens to display information, which is not in the document from the government, but when we spoke to doctors and ICU specialists, it was clear this was something we should incorporate so that we can aid medical professionals to deliver the best care for the patients.
"On top of that, it became apparent that it’s essential to have a machine that can automatically respond to the patient’s own breathing inputs and react to those positively. Achieving these and other goals for our machine has been a huge challenge but really satisfying.
“Triple Eight has always been an engineering company that goes racing. We have highly specialised engineers. Our skillsets include hitting deadlines, constant improvement, and working to rule books and regulations.
"So that’s perfectly suited to a crisis situation where you need the product now, you need it to keep getting better, and you need to not stop until it’s right, and that’s in our DNA."
Expanding on the telemetry feature, Dutton said it's a response to a potential lack of medical staff able to operate ventilators.
“When we first looked at The Conrod Project and spoke with doctors, their initial worry in Australia was not a lack of ventilators but a lack of staff to operate the ventilators,” he said.
“We’ve tackled that by installing onboard telemetry, like the race cars, so that means one specialist can be monitoring as many patients as they feel comfortable, whether that’s 10, 50 or 100, and with the onboard alarms they can then direct the attention to the patient that needs it.”
Cooling specialist PWR, which is highly active not just in Supercars but in Formula 1 and the wider automotive, aerospace and IT industries, is also involved in The Conrod Project.
“If a ventilator like this is required at some point, for use in sub-optimal conditions such as a field hospital, then PWR are equipped with world-class facilities right here in South East Queensland that could be available to start mass manufacturing very quickly," added Dutton.
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering
The Conrod Project, the development of emergency medical ventilator

Photo by: Triple Eight Race Engineering

Previous article
Ambrose to make virtual Supercars return
Next article
Le Brocq wary of Montreal "dive bombs"

About this article
Series | Supercars |
Teams | Triple Eight Race Engineering |
Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
Triple Eight improves emergency ventilator
Trending
Todd Kelly builds André's Bathurst 1000 engine
Penrite Racing unveil new Aussie livery
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
How a lifetime Supercars deal broke down in one year
David Reynolds inked what was effectively a lifetime deal with Erebus in 2019 – only to walk out a year later. What went wrong?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...
Why 2020 isn't McLaughlin's greatest title
Scott McLaughlin was quick to describe his third Supercars title as his best yet. But even though it didn't match the dramatic backstory of his 2018 triumph, there's a good reason for him wanting to control the narrative this time around.
Why a Bathurst finale is risky business for Supercars
The Bathurst Grand Final may provide Supercars its greatest spectacle yet – but there's a risk it will force the series to face a hard truth.
Why Scott McLaughlin must become an IndyCar driver
Scott McLaughlin, two-time and current Supercars champion, should have been making his NTT IndyCar Series debut for Team Penske at the GP of Indianapolis, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling that has put the brakes on his career switch. But David Malsher-Lopez explains why the New Zealander deserves this opportunity as soon as possible.
Tickford's 10-year wait for James Courtney
When the Supercars season resumes James Courtney will be a Tickford Racing driver – but it's not the first time the star driver has flirted with the famous Ford squad.
Is Australia facing a fresh touring car war?
Supercars has fought off two-litre touring car competition in the past, so does the launch of TCR Australia mean it will have to do it again?