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Quadriplegic Racer Controls McLaren 720S With Head
7 Mar
Summary
- A quadriplegic former racer controls a McLaren 720S using only head movements and breath.
- The specially modified SAM car uses infrared cameras and mouthpiece sensors for operation.
- Sam Schmidt advocates for advanced mobility solutions for those with severe challenges.
Former IndyCar racer Sam Schmidt, paralyzed after a 2000 crash, is once again making headlines by piloting a specially modified McLaren 720S Spider. This groundbreaking vehicle, dubbed the SAM car, is controlled entirely through head movements and breath. Developed by Arrow Electronics in collaboration with Schmidt, the car debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The McLaren 720S Spider features a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. Infrared cameras track head movements via reflective markers on a helmet, translating them into steering commands. Breath control, using a mouthpiece sensor, manages acceleration and braking, with safety features like sneeze detection included. A co-driver monitors conventional controls as a backup.
Schmidt, who co-owns the Arrow-developed McLaren, became quadriplegic in 2000. He founded Sam Schmidt Motorsports and partnered with Arrow to create the SAM car project, which first appeared in 2014. He has since competed and earned a special driving license in Nevada for public road use. Schmidt now champions greater access to these transformative mobility technologies.
