MOTOROLA TECHNOLOGY HELPS GM CORVETTE RACE TEAM TAKE TOP HONORS AT 24 HOURS OF LEMANS
Trials utilize Motorola’s mesh networking technology to transmit video and under the hood diagnostics at speeds near 200 miles per hour
Schaumburg, IL July, 26 2005 Motorola, Inc and General Motors (GM) are outfitting select race tracks and vehicles around the world with Motorola’s MOTODRIVE Architecture. This architecture incorporates a mesh network at its core, and is being utilized to conduct trials of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) technology. The Motorola digital voice two-way radio gear and the new MOTODRIVE Architecture helped the GM Corvette Racing Team win in the GT1 class with a first and second place finish at the famous 24 Hours of LeMans endurance race this June.
During the race, Motorola’s technology provided the GM Corvette Racing Team with enhanced video feeds from the car as well as giving the pit crew the ability to monitor and diagnose vehicle problems wirelessly, in real-time prior to them arriving in the pit for service or repair. Motorola’s mesh networking technology is secure and extremely fast. The trial confirmed that the network could reliably transfer broadband information between the trackside network and cars at speeds near 200 miles per hour.
By operating in an extremely harsh racing environment, Motorola's MOTODRIVE Architecture demonstrated how it may be used to enhance the experience of average drivers by providing road condition monitoring, anti-collision information, car-to-car communication, remote diagnostics/repair/software downloads, automatic toll collection, entertainment and more.
The critical aspects of Motorola’s technology being explored by automakers like GM and Departments of Transportation for VII applications include mobile bandwidth and hand-off.
"GM leverages the technology testing from the track for production vehicle development and the Corvette Racing program is happy to be working with Motorola trialing VII technology", stated Doug Fehan, GM's manager for Corvette Racing. "There's no bigger challenge to us than the 24 Hours of LeMans and the GT1 class winning #64 Corvette leveraged the Motorola mesh networking technology lap after lap for some 2800 miles in 120 degree heat. From my perspective, this historic demonstration of live streaming video and vehicle diagnostics will help accelerate the direction of the whole industry."
“We are thrilled that our MotoDrive ITS applications and Motorola’s mobile mesh networking technology performed so well at the track at speeds approaching 200 mph,” stated Gary Grube, corporate vice president, Motorola. “The GM Corvette Racing program is an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate the value of mobile mesh technology to the whole industry and to the government transportation departments. Today, this technology helps amplify the effectiveness of public safety agencies in cities around the country. Soon it could also help improve the safety of the driving public on roads outside of the racetrack.”
In future trials, Motorola and GM plan to continue to explore improved driver-to-pit, and driver-to-driver communications. Other applications like streaming 360 degree video, bulk engine and chassis telemetry transfers, driver vital signs monitoring, race track condition information for race officials and even future anti-collision warning systems are just a few of the areas where this technology holds promise.
About Motorola
Motorola is a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks. In your home, auto, workplace and all spaces in between, seamless mobility means you can reach the people, things and information you need, anywhere, anytime. Seamless mobility harnesses the power of technology convergence and enables smarter, faster, cost-effective and flexible communication. Motorola had sales of US $31.3 billion in 2004. For more information: http://www.motorola.com/.
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Media Contacts:
Pamela Benke
Motorola, Inc.
+ 407-659-5332
Pam.Benke@motorola.com
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