Arrow Electronics Helps Racecar Driver Sam Schmidt Regain Independence Two Decades After Accident Leaves Him Paralyzed
Summary
Sensors on an Arrow-designed headset that Schmidt wears connect to infrared cameras mounted on the dashboard and detect his head motions to steer. This project proved that to me.” Recently, Schmidt approached the 20th anniversary of his racing accident by tracing the 2.5 mile Freedom Trail, a route connecting historic landmarks in Boston. The objective of Arrow’s SAM Car project is to enable drivers with physical disabilities to experience the mobility and independence of driving again by leveraging the power of technology. Now, people disabled by military combat, spinal cord injuries, illness and aging are able to experience similar freedom in the Arrow SAM Car on closed courses. The drivers, clients of the neurorecovery center, used the head controls to drive at SpeedVegas, a 1.5 mile racetrack in Las Vegas.