Quadriplegic former Indy driver to get autonomous car license
Sam Schmidt, who has torn up racetracks nationwide in the newest generation of Arrow Electronics' semi-autonomous car, will receive the nation's first autonomous vehicle restricted driver's license to drive a semi-autonomous vehicle at an event in Las Vegas on Wednesday, according to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.
In May, Schmidt, who has been a quadriplegic since a testing accident at Walt Disney World Speedway in 2000, bested his own record by reaching 152mph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the SAM project's modified 2016 Corvette Z06, which boasts more than 200bhp more than the Stingray that it replaces. His previous best of 107 mph was set in 2014 at IMS.
He has also driven the street circuit at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
The vehicle Schmidt drove in May included improvements to the electronic steering, acceleration and braking systems. Schmidt still controls the car with his head, but now sends input via an updated headset. Meanwhile, a new IoT [Internet of Things] platform allowed both Schmidt and Arrow engineers to make real-time adjustments to the car while it was on the track. Nine-time Pike's Peak Hill Climb winner and two-time Indy 500 starter Robby Unser was recruited as co-driver.
"Arrow's engineers incorporated insights learned from the previous model to build an advanced car design that incorporates cutting-edge Internet of Things technologies and live data-streaming, among other exciting improvements," Joe Verrengia, Arrow's global director of corporate social responsibility, who oversees the company's SAM project, said in May. "We hope the SAM car continues to inspire and drive technology innovation forward."
Schmidt credits the current success of his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports IndyCar operation to the team's association with Arrow, which has evolved to the point where SPM is considering adding a third car.
"It is full steam ahead and it is all good with Arrow," Schmidt said in September. "They're getting a substantial return on their investment. Everybody at the company's happy. A lot of things we are doing outside as well as inside provide value; it's the race team, a comprehensive promotions deal that includes the SAM Corvette, and a lot of off-track activation and events. It's more than just the on-track part.
"All that being said, it's also the toughest thing I've ever done in my life. Going back 20 years to try and find my own budget to drive. And then subsequently put teams together in IndyCar and then Indy Lights, it's not easy, but we have good partners making our team stronger. Honestly, if I wouldn't have started driving the [Arrow-outfitted SAM] Corvette and building upon that, and getting some commercial traction in the technology industry, I don't know where we would be right now."