Car successfully completes demonstration laps
at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
First Paragraph, first sentence of release should read Topping
out at 97 miles per hour (instead of Topping out at 73.7 miles per
hour).
The corrected release reads:
FORMER INDYCAR DRIVER SAM SCHMIDT BECOMES
FIRST INDIVIDUAL EVER TO DRIVE ON RACE TRACK SEMI-AUTONOMOUS
MOTORCAR MODIFIED FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH QUADRIPLEGIA
Car successfully completes demonstration laps
at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Topping out at 97 miles per hour, former IndyCar driver and
current Verizon IndyCar Series Team owner Sam Schmidt today drove a
race car for the first time since he was paralyzed in a practice
accident in 2000. Driving a modified 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray
dubbed the SAM Project, meaning “semi-autonomous motorcar,” Schmidt
becomes the first person with quadriplegia to drive a race car at
speed using integrated advanced electronics.
Schmidt drove four consecutive demonstration laps today prior to
Old National Armed Forces Pole Day qualifying for the 98th Running
of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
The SAM Project is a collaborative venture between Arrow
Electronics, Inc., Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Schmidt
Peterson Motor Sports and Falci Adaptive Motorsports, a nonprofit.
Arrow led the development of the SAM car and the systems
integration, as well as the engineering of specific systems for the
car. Ball led the modification of the human-to-machine interface
and driver-guidance system. Colorado neurosurgeon and Falci
Adaptive Motorsports founder Dr. Scott Falci advocated for the
modification of a Corvette for FAM’s adaptive motorsports program
for the spinal-cord injured and recruited Schmidt to the SAM
Project. The Air Force Research Laboratory monitored Schmidt’s
biometrics during laps, as well as collecting data in how he
interacted with the guidance systems.
“Racing has been a dream of mine since I was five years old,”
said Schmidt. “I thought I’d never be able to race again after my
accident, but this vehicle made it possible. While I was in the SAM
vehicle, I was unencumbered by my disability. It was the most
normal I have felt in nearly 15 years. It was amazing.”
While autonomous vehicles exist today, a race car for
individuals paralyzed from the shoulders down did not exist until
the SAM Project. Moreover, the SAM Project’s objectives are not to
transfer control of a vehicle to technology but rather to enable
disabled drivers to enjoy the driving experience by leveraging the
power of technology.
The vehicle integrates the following technology:
- Infrared camera system – four sensors
mounted on Schmidt’s hat connected to infrared cameras mounted on
the dashboard that detect his head tilt motions in order to steer
and accelerate.
- Bite sensor – Schmidt holds a device in
his mouth and bites down on it to slow down or brake.
- Computer system – a central processor
collects signals from the camera system and bite sensor to control
the car’s acceleration, braking and steering,
- GPS technology – a guidance system that
keeps the car within 1.5 meters from the edge of the track. Schmidt
has a width of approximately 10 meters to steer within.
- Safety system – a set of software
algorithms that ensure commands sent to the computer system are
real and defined within the vehicle’s limits.
Following Indy 500 festivities, the SAM vehicle will be brought
to events for public inspiration and education, disabled community
awareness and business development opportunities. The project also
supports Conquer Paralysis Now, Schmidt’s foundation dedicated to
finding a cure for paralysis.
ABOUT THE SAM PROJECT
The SAM (semi-autonomous motorcar) Project is an innovative
project in which a 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray car has been modified
with integrated advanced electronics and a human-to-machine
interface so a qualified quadriplegic driver can safely operate it
under racetrack conditions. The concept of modifying cars so
disabled racers might return to the racetrack is championed by
Colorado neurosurgeon Dr. Scott Falci. The SAM Project is a
collaborative venture between Arrow Electronics, Ball Aerospace
& Technologies Corp., the Air Force Research Laboratory,
Schmidt Peterson Motor Sports and Falci Adaptive Motorsports. More
information about the project is available at
http://arrowsamcar.com/.
ABOUT SAM PROJECT PARTNERS
About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics (www.arrow.com) is a global provider of
products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users
of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow
serves as a supply channel partner for more than 100,000 original
equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial
customers through a global network of more than 460 locations in 58
countries. Based in Englewood, Colo., Arrow guides today’s
innovators to a better tomorrow – a world of Five Years Out. Five
Years Out is a community of builders and engineers who navigate the
path between possibility and practicality. Arrow is guiding the SAM
project forward to improve mobility for the disabled and
demonstrate the power of innovation. For more information about
Arrow and the SAM project, visit www.arrow.com.
About Ball Aerospace & Technologies
Corp.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., a subsidiary of the
Ball Corporation and based in Broomfield, Colo., prides itself on
its agility to innovate and strength to deliver for defense,
intelligence, civil and commercial customers. The company advances
science and protects the nation through the development and
manufacture of space systems, tactical defense products and
geospatial information solutions. Ball is a key contributor of
technical innovations for the SAM project and leads the
modification of the human to machine interface and driver guidance
system. www.ballaerospace.com
About the Air Force Research
Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory is a scientific research
organization operated by the United States Air Force Materiel
Command dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and
integration of affordable aerospace warfighting technologies,
planning and executing the Air Force science and technology
program, and provide warfighting capabilities to United States air,
space, and cyberspace forces. www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl
About Falci Adaptive
Motorsports
Falci Adaptive Motorsports is a registered Colorado non-profit.
Its mission is to provide opportunity, education and inspiration to
the public through disabled racing initiatives and advancements in
spinal cord injury research encompassing spinal cord regeneration
techniques, drug development for spinal cord injury neuropathic
pain, and development of adaptive technologies for those with
spinal cord injury and disabilities in general. One of FAM’s
priorities is to demonstrate the SAM vehicle to advance new
mobility systems and lower the barriers that discourage and isolate
the disabled community. www.falcimotorsports.org
About Schmidt Peterson Motor
Sports
Schmidt Peterson Motor Sports is a racing team owned by
quadriplegic Sam Schmidt and partners. SPMS competes in both
IndyCar and Indy Lights. The SAM C7 was modified at its racing
garage in Indianapolis. SPMS’s priorities are for Sam Schmidt to
safely drive at speed and to support the disabled community through
his related charity, Conquer Paralysis Now. www.spmindycar.com
Media ContactsDawn Small, Arrow
Electronics, 720-250-6103, dsmall@arrow.comMary Engola, Ball
Aerospace & Technologies Corp., 571-236-0950,
mengola@ball.comKrystin Wiggs, for Schmidt Peterson Motor Sports,
317-731-6394, krystin@grand-solutions.netKirsten Kryzstek, Falci
Adaptive Motorsports, 303-789-8984,
Kirsten@falcimotorsports.orgChristina Wooten, Air Force Research
Laboratory, 937-255-3814, christina.wooten@us.af.mil
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