S.E.B. Solutions for Deaf Racing Drivers

STRIVE, EMPOWER, BELONG S . E . B

SOLUTIONS FOR DEAF RACING DRIVERS

WHAT WE’RE AIMING TO ACHIEVE

WHO ARE TEAM BRIT?

Team BRIT’s motto is ‘ Changing Motorsport. Changing Lives. ’ ‘We support, inspire and motivate people facing physical and psychological challenges by demonstrating what can be achieved through motorsport’.

PROJECT SEB

Our latest project is aiming to make motorsport accessible to the Deaf racing community.

We are working with JSCC Championship Deaf driver Caleb McDuff to understand the limitations that currently exist within the motorsport industry for the Deaf racing community. Key amongst these challenges is communication between the driver and engineering team.

Team BRIT developed innovative hand controls that allow disabled drivers to race on an equal playing field against able-bodied competitors. This technology has enabled true equality, something no other sport can offer.

We have now delivered what is recognised as the world’s most advanced racing hand control technology for disabled racing drivers, which is not patented to allow accessibility to all.

We are focussing the same drive and commitment on this project and are looking for sponsors and partners to support us in this accessibility journey to make motorsport fully accessible to the Deaf racing community. A partnership with you can move this project from the planning stage to the race track.

ADVANCEMENTS WHICH NEED TO BE MADE

All d/Deaf individuals are different. There are four levels of hearing loss; mild, moderate, severe and profound.

We are working with a Deaf driver who has profound, sensorineural hearing loss and utilises Cochlear implants.

Some Deaf drivers wear implants. Cochlear implants work by turning sound into electrical signals and sending them to part of the inner ear called the cochlea. From here, the signals travel to the brain and are heard as sound.

BAHAs (Bone Anchored Hearing Aids) work by transmitting sounds through the skull bone to the inner ear.

Key advancements which need to be made are:

• Introduce a reliable cochlear implant interface system: Most processor units allow for auxiliary connection whether by wired auxiliary input or Bluetooth

• Develop a helmet which allows a CI (cochlear implant) and BAHA users to wear their implants whilst racing: Due to helmet fit/ design being a major issue for Caleb he chooses to race without his implants, in silence

• Two way communication: Overcome the lack of two way communication between the driver and their team. A communication device needs to be present in the car which doesn’t distract the user, requires minimal hand movement, translates speech-to-text, allows simple responses through buttons/sequences which can be memorised

• Unable to hear engine: Caleb is unable to hear engine gear changes so there is a requirement for something visual

• Sensory experience for the driver: A Deaf driver receives less than half the sensory experience a hearing driver receives when racing. We will look at whether a haptic system would be able to replicate this experience on a simulator

IDEAS

Several ideas have been discussed, including exploring technology that already exists which could be adapted, and solutions which may not be readily available yet. We would like to continue investigating options, including heads up displays on helmet visors and driver response tools.

Pit crew transmits message to driver

Driver receives message via helmet CI or Voice-to-text message on HUD

Driver sends message back to pit crew via options on HUD

HEADS UP DISPLAY ON HELMET VISOR

To include:

• Voice-to-text messages from pit

• Rev counter

• Gear indicator

• Lap time

Warning signals etc. In which the following needs to be considered:

• Engine/chassis warning light

• Hi/lo temps/pressures

• Engine/TC/ABS fault

• Low fuel

• Shift lights

• Lap time delta

• Lap time at start/finish

• Fuel used/fuel remaining

• TC active indicator

• Lockup indicator (ABS active)

• Pitlane timer/box release (for endurance racing with min pit times)

• RPM (not that important, drivers rely on shift lights that are pre-programmed with the rpm wanted for the driver to shift each gear to maintain torque on upshift for each ratio/load)

• Pit to Driver Comms –

• Box instruction

• Position

• Gap to position behind

• Gap to position in front

• Lap time degradation/gain

• Race time remaining

• Stint time remaining

• Track warnings

• Yellow sectors

• Red flag

• Session start

• Chequered

• Penalty

• Debris/slippery surface

• Safety car out/safety car coming in

• Faster traffic approaching behind

• Approaching slow traffic ahead

• Change in weather conditions

• Pitstop briefing

• Full service

• Fuel only

• Driver change

• Tyres only, etc.

DRIVER RESPONSE TOOL

Driver Response Tool through scroller on steering wheel that flips through a list of pre-set messages that will display on the screen. In which the following needs to be considered:

To include:

• Confirm message received

• Query all above points (e.g. what’s my position?)

• Box confirm

• Change in weather/track conditions

• Alert pit to imminent red/yellow flag

• Info on cause of red/yellow with estimate of restart time (e.g. car in the gravel but tow truck is near so should resume racing very shortly)

• Mechanical issue with the car

• Collision with wall/contact with other car

• Had a spin/back on track/all ok

• Request box

• Box reason (e.g. tyre pressures, contact, etc.)

• Report driver ok after contact

• Report level of damage

• Report balance of the car (e.g. beginning to understeer at entry of turn 4)

• Request setup change

• Request wets

WHO ELSE IS ONBOARD

MRTC , global motorsport & event communications are keen to support and waiting to free up their technical specialist to discuss solutions and ideas with Team BRIT as they have already provided support to a Deaf racing driver.

REAL Equipe are world-leaders in bespoke moulds for motorsport who will be providing their expertise to create a helmet solution for Deaf racing drivers that wear Cochlear Implants.

Our vision is to change the world for deaf people. We have a mission that by 2025 we will have positively impacted 1 million deaf people’s lives. We do this by revamping the everyday deaf employee and deaf customer experience provided by the biggest UK and global brands.

We are also seeking advice and guidance from UK Deaf Sport.

SUMMARY

Extensive research has already informed this exciting and ground-breaking project.

Our team of experts are specialists in their own fields and are now securing the expertise and guidance of the industry leaders to move this project forward.

We are invested in making this solution possible for Caleb and other Deaf racing drivers and are looking for partners to join us on this exciting journey. Join us to make motorsport even more accessible.

Changing motorsport, changing lives.

Claire Pagano Project Director

SEB - STRIVE, EMPOWER, BELONG

Solutions for Deaf Racing Drivers

T. (0) 7827 447 208

E. claire@teambrit.co.uk