Formula E. The innovative Driver’s Eye camera

Formula E drivers eye camera
La vista da dietro la visiera di Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ) all'inizio del 2020 E-Prix Antofagasta Minerals Santiago (Rd 3). The view from behind the visor of Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ) at the start of the 2020 Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix (Rd 3).

The ABB FIA Formula E Championship introduced in the last Santiago E-Prix, the ‘Driver’s Eye’ – an innovative new camera connected to the inside of the helmet.

Formula E drivers eye camera
Una ripresa ravvicinata della telecamera Driver’s Eye (lato destro) alloggiata all’interno del casco di Felipe Massa (ROKiT Venturi Racing).
A close-up shot of the Driver’s Eye camera (right-hand side) housed inside the helmet of Felipe Massa (ROKiT Venturi Racing).

In this way, the fans can be in the driving seat and they have a glimpse of what it’s like to sit behind the steering wheel.

The pioneering camera technology pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in sports broadcasting, by transmitting live footage from behind the visor direct to television screens, which is a world’s first in any category of FIA-sanctioned single-seater racing.

Showcased fully for the first time in Santiago, the Driver’s Eye camera angle adds an immersive element to the viewing experience and enables fans to feel every bump and brush against the wall around the tight and twisty city-centre circuits.

The FIA homologated device is perfectly positioned on the protective padding inside the lining of the helmet and sits exactly at the eye level of the driver.

The Driver’s Eye camera is 8 millimetres in diameter and weighs just 2.5 grams, taking many months of research together with the FIA and the teams in order to fine-tune the finishing product ready for race conditions.

When you speak to Formula E drivers, the first thing they highlight is the thrill and challenge of driving on city circuits. Driver’s Eye provides a new perspective from inside the helmet in live race conditions, showing the skill it takes to thread the car between the walls while processing data and communicating

Formula E drivers eye camera
Felipe Massa (ROKiT Venturi Racing) con in mano il casco da gara e guardando in basso l’obiettivo con la testa accanto alla nuova rivoluzionaria fotocamera.
Felipe Massa (ROKiT Venturi Racing) holding his race helmet and looking down the lens with his head next to the revolutionary new camera.

with the team at speed. Driver’s Eye adds a unique dimension to the viewing experience and the innovative camera technology immerses fans in wheel-to-wheel racing. We are delighted to bring our fans closer to the drivers’ sensory experience and their engagement with Driver’s Eye content across social media demonstrates the value of innovations core to the ABB FIA Formula E Championship – said Sebastian Tiffert, Content, Editorial & Digital Director at Formula E.

The Rokit Venturi Racing Driver Felipe Massa declared:

I think it is cool how Driver’s Eye shows fans exactly what I am seeing during a race in real time. It gives the viewers insight into the tight and challenging city-centre circuits that we race on in Formula E and it demonstrates what drivers need to manage and control over the course of a race. I like tech like this, that brings fans even closer to the action. Driver’s Eye is a great way to show the work that goes on behind the wheel.

Photo captions

1 – The view from behind the visor of Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ) at the start of the 2020 Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix (Rd 3).

2 – A close-up shot of the Driver’s Eye camera (right-hand side) housed inside the helmet of Felipe Massa (ROKiT Venturi Racing).

3 – Felipe Massa (ROKiT Venturi Racing) holding his race helmet and looking down the lens with his head next to the revolutionary new camera.

Source: Formula E

Photo: ‘Courtesy of Formula E’

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