Paralyzed driver completes Goodwood Hillclimb in head-tracking car

By admin On Jun 27, 2022

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Sam Schmidt, a former IndyCar driver who was paralyzed in all his limbs in an accident, has completed the Hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a modified car. He piloted a McLaren 720S with head tracking and with his mouth.

Infrared cameras on the car’s dashboard record Schmidt’s head movements, allowing him to steer left and right. The driver uses his mouth to accelerate and brake. This works with a device that Schmidt blows or sucks into, respectively to accelerate or brake.

According to a Arrow press release Schmidt completed the 1.86 kilometer circuit this year in a modified McLaren 720S. The company shows a photo, but no video material. Last year, Schmidt also visited the Goodwood Festival of Speed, then with his modified Corvette C8. There is a video of that ride on YouTube.

Sam Schmidt in a modified McLaren 720S at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Further technical details about the modifications in the McLaren 720S have not been disclosed, but the Arrow website describes how the system works in the previously modified Corvette. Four infrared cameras on the dashboard monitor the movements of the driver, who wears a helmet with four infrared sensors. Acceleration and braking works by blowing into and sucking into a nozzle with a Freescale pressure sensor. The input from this is passed on to rotary actuators that operate the accelerator and brake pedals.

Schmidt developed the technique to drive a car despite his paralysis, in collaboration with Arrow. That company also sponsors the racing team Arrow McLaren SP, which Schmidt founded after he became paralyzed in 2000. The makers call the technique SAM: Semi-Autonomous Motorcar.

In 2014, Schmidt drove again for the first time since his accident in 2000. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway he then reached a speed of 172 km / h. In 2015, Schmidt took part in a championship in racing simulator iRacing, with a simulator with SAM technology. 25 professional sim racers took part and Schmidt took sixteenth place. In 2016, Schmidt also competed in the Pikes Peak hillclimb in his modified Corvette.