The second part in the series takes a look at driver aids, or rather, one piece of safety kit in particular. Features like crash helmets, Nomex overalls and HANS devices all help make drivers that little bit more secure in their environment but this next accessory so caught my attention that I feel it’s worthy of a post in its own right. What am I talking about… ear accelerometers!

I’m not really physics orientated so I must admit that I’d never heard of these devices before, but I was intrigued to find out more. I suppose I should really start with a short “Physics 101″ about what is an accelerometer and what information we can get from them. According to the students’ friend Wikipedia, an accelerometer is a device that measures the acceleration forces experienced by an object, relative to freefall. These forces can either be static like the gravity that pins you to the earth or they can be dynamic due to the movement or vibration sensed at the accelerometer. By combining information from static and dynamic measurements you can gain information on tilt with respect to the earth, and acceleration. I was surprised to find that there are multiple applications that use their output.

But these devices aren’t just used to measure acceleration in cars; they have other automotive applications too. For example, high G sensors can detect an accident and deploy a vehicles airbags at just the right time, others are used in ABS braking to prevent a skid and some are used in active suspension systems to monitor tilt and keep the vehicle level.

From medical devices such as rate responsive heart pacemakers and defibrillators; to computer gaming devices like the Wii remote where they measure motion input, accelerometers are an essential part of everyday life. Even the iPhone, Android or other smart phone you may be using to read this post contains a miniature accelerometer for user interface control.

Accelerometers vary in size from very small, miniature devices through to units that are fairly large in size, each adapted to suit a specific purpose; their output can be connected to a computer, or in the case of F1 applications, an accident data recorder; their signal can be amplified to monitor minute changes in acceleration in up to three axis (vertical, lateral and longitudinal) simultaneously. Indeed those cool graphics of g-force during cornering that the BBC show in their F1 coverage uses an accelerometer to determine changes in direction and acceleration.

Accelerometers in motor racing.
The US Indy Racing League have led the field in developing accelerometers for motor racing; their drivers have been testing miniature devices in race conditions since 2005 to monitor both racing accidents and determine whether improvements to other driver aids like shoulder harnesses and head and neck support (HANS) devices are effective.

Although the Indy Car earpieces were effective, the FIA decided they were too bulky and could possibly detach at increased frequencies, so a new sub-miniature type of device, the Endevco accelerometer was designed. The Endevco sensor, a mere 3mm cubed fits inside the sleeve of an existing earpiece and is designed to penetrate deep within the drivers’ ear canal. The FIA Institute is also developing an even smaller sensor with Japanese company Hokuriku, this version, just 1mm thick is attached to a micro-ribbon that connects with the accident data recorder to record instantaneous g-force in the event of an accident. It’s expected that the devices will be used full time by the 2010 season.

I’m amazed that one tiny piece of equipment can do so much, the drivers’ earpiece serves three distinct functions; to reduce engine noise from the car, communication with the team via radio and now it can determine the amplitude and direction of forces on his head during a race… all very useful in the event of an accident. Whatever will they think of next?

More safety first snippets from me in the next few days…

Image credit ::: FIA Institute