A Mini Adventure

If you watched the London Olympics in 2012, there is a strong chance that, in the midst of the world's greatest athletes, you witnessed the incredible work of Foley Technologies. As the official automotive partner of the Olympics, BMW entrusted Design Q and Foley Technologies with the task of creating a fleet of remote-control Mini Coopers for use in the field events. These miniature vehicles were responsible for retrieving the discuses, javelins, hammers, and shots from the field.

Design Q and Foley Technologies collaborated to rework digital data of the production Mini, creating seven scaled-down models that were almost quarter-scale in size. Each car was designed to carry 8kg loads and featured a custom-made aluminum chassis with molded composite bodies that were adorned with realistic 3D printed details, including functioning headlamps. The vehicles were powered by electric motors and used in rotation throughout the Olympics and Paralympics, operating in four-hour shifts.

Foley Technologies team members were assigned to provide technical support for the Mini Coopers throughout the games. They spent the duration of the Olympics trackside, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Usain Bolt, who took one of the Mini Coopers for a spin between heats. The fleet of remote-control Mini Coopers designed and created by Design Q and Foley Technologies was an impressive contribution to the London Olympics of 2012.