Former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt recently drove the Sonoma Grand Prix road course in a modified 2014 Corvette C7 Stingray that is equipped with advanced electronics.
As part of Arrow Electronics’ Semi-Autonomous Motorcar (SAM) project, the high-speed demonstration showcased their recently-developed integrated semi-autonomous driving technology.
Schmidt aimed to conquer the twists, turns and hills of Sonoma’s 2.52 mile (4.06 km) road course, including a 180 degree turn, in a demonstration lap prior to the start of the Grand Prix.
To drive on the Sonoma road course track, the SAM car was updated with new cameras and more responsive driving controls.
The modifications allow Schmidt to make sharp left and right turns, navigate hills and synchronize acceleration and braking more precisely.
Technology integrated into the SAM car includes:
Infrared camera system: Sensors mounted on Schmidt’s hat connect to infrared cameras mounted on the dashboard that detect his head-tilt motions in order to steer.
Sip/puff system: Using breath control, Schmidt can accelerate and brake the vehicle by sucking or blowing into a tube attached to a Freescale-integrated pressure sensor.
Computer system: A central processor from Freescale collects signals from the camera and the sip/puff system to control the car’s acceleration, braking and steering.
GPS technology: A guidance system keeps the car within 1.5 meters from the edge of the track, providing Schmidt with a virtual envelope about 10 meters wide within which he steers.
Safety system: A set of software algorithms ensure the commands sent to the computer system are real and defined within the vehicle’s limits.
IoT connectivity: An Arrow 4G-LTE IoT gateway running Windows 10 Enterprise on an Intel server collects, streams and stores API-accessible data in Microsoft’s Azure cloud service.
At a May 2014 demonstration at the Indianapolis 500, Schmidt drove four qualifying laps in the Corvette, reaching a top speed of 97 mph (156 km/h) and garnering worldwide attention. In a subsequent demonstration, Schimdt reached a top speed of 107 mph (172 km/h).
Sam Schmidt driving the SAM 2.0 car during the final road course engineering test drive in Morrison, Colorado on March 13, 2015. (Photo: Business Wire)
“I thought I would never be able to drive again after my accident, but this vehicle makes it possible for me to improve every time I am on the track,” Schmidt said. “Driving fast on a road course just a year after Indy is incredible progress.”
The SAM project is a collaborative venture between Arrow Electronics, Freescale Semiconductor, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and the non-profit Conquer Paralysis Now. Arrow leads the development of the SAM car and the systems integration, as well as the engineering of specific systems for the car. Freescale’s technology is features an advanced human-to-machine interface, which includes automotive microprocessors and sensors based on its MEMS technology.
More details about the SAM project can be found here.