{"id":98030,"date":"2024-10-08T15:50:49","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T22:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/?p=98030"},"modified":"2024-10-09T07:14:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T14:14:14","slug":"bosch-and-wickens-collaborate-to-enhance-racing-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/bosch-and-wickens-collaborate-to-enhance-racing-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Bosch and Wickens Collaborate to Enhance Racing Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Robert Wickens and Harry Gottsacker are attempting a second straight championship in IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR class – Bryan Herta Autosport photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hand-braking technology is at the top of the list for the IMSA racer as he works to increase speed and performance.<\/h2>\n

Athletes with disabilities are winners, in part because they don\u2019t allow whatever disability they might have to stop them from achieving success. In the motorsports arena, no one exemplifies that more than Robert Wickens, the 2023 IMSA champion in its Michelin Pilot Challenge Series, driving a Hyundai Elantra N TCR campaigned by Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA).<\/p>\n

The sedan was modified by BHA, incorporating hand controls on the steering wheel that enabled Wickens to turn, accelerate and brake. Wickens was paralyzed in a 2018 accident on the Pocono Raceway oval while racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. He\u2019s made remarkable strides since that time. Or is that obvious?<\/p>\n

\"\"
Wickens’ braking ring – IMSA photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To assist other racers who might have similar issues, the 35-year-old Canadian is working with Bosch Motorsport as Bosch adapts its electronic braking control technology, currently used in IMSA\u2019s Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship to fit his TCR Hyundai. The system can also be used in the more powerful prototype class as well. And it could be adapted for more types of racing, Bosch operatives said.<\/p>\n

Bosch\u2019s electronic braking control system, as used in GTP competition, is activated for rear brakes only, but the system has now been expanded to all four wheels of the TCR machine. The electronic braking system uses a steering wheel ring to activate the brakes, while electronic controls replace the series of mechanical linkages that physically operated the car\u2019s standard brake pedal. This eliminates delays and added friction.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bosch’s technology – IMSA photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new four-wheel system appropriately reduces the pressure necessary for Robert Wickens to apply to his steering wheel brake ring, allowing added stopping power and allowing Wickens to use a single hand to brake, which frees up his other hand to use his steering wheel-mounted downshift paddle while braking the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt provides opportunity,\u201d Wickens said. \u201cI think it\u2019s safe to say the [initial] system we developed with Bryan Herta Autosport and Hyundai had a ceiling that was more or less at the level of the TCR category. I\u2019ve always had ambitions of trying to have the opportunities to explore the possibilities of racing in the WeatherTech Championship or other professional categories around the world. What this does, and it\u2019s not a guarantee by any stretch of the imagination,\u201d he admitted, \u201cbut it does give me a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bosch techs and Wickens introduced this technology at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last month – IMSA photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jacob Bergenske, the director of Bosch Motorsport North America noted, \u201cWe\u2019re taking the next step of innovation with an electronic braking system that is hand controlled. Based off our proven performance in the LMDh electronic braking system, it\u2019s an innovation on top of that, which we are super happy to collaborate with Robert on. The system is about providing opportunity and parity across the field, for people who are not able to race at the top level of racing. Robert is here to prove that,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

The first real-world test came as a shakedown after the May IMSA weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. More recently, Wickens completed three days of testing at Putnam Park outside Indianapolis. At Indianapolis on September 21, Wickens used the system for the first time in competition; he and Harry Gottsacker, with whom he shares the 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR title, earned second place in their race. The duo remain in contention for a second consecutive TCR class championship; the season finale for their series takes place October 11 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Wickens’ steering wheel – IMSA photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After the Indy race Wickens stated, \u201cHonestly, it feels great. So far, it\u2019s doing everything I want it to do and with no latencies or surprises like I\u2019ve had in the past. I\u2019m just really looking forward to the potential that the system has for me. I know it\u2019s going to keep getting better and better as I continue to adapt and re-learn my braking techniques. It\u2019s still very young in its life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The objective for this driver is to return to a top racing class and compete for overall wins. \u201cRacing in GTP would always be the ultimate goal of mine,\u201d he revealed. As well, \u201cthe goal for all this is trying to create equal opportunities for unable-bodied drivers. If I can include myself, hopefully when I\u2019m done with my career, I can hold my head up high for creating an easier path for the next generation of disabled motorsport athletes trying to find their way to the highest levels of motorsport.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wickens and his team, Bryan Herta Autosport, have the added benefit of working with Hyundai Motor Group, which is showcasing its X-ble MEX, a medical exoskeleton walking rehabilitation robot, assisting injured soldiers in their recovery. Developed by the group\u2019s Robotics LAB, this wearable rehab robot aids muscle recovery, joint movement and other complex motions beyond basic walking assistance.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hyundai Motor Group shows its X-ble MEX exoskeleton – Hyundai photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The vehicle manufacturer is working with South Korea\u2019s Armed Forces Medical Command. Developed for the purpose of lower muscle reconstruction, the robot aids walking rehabilitation and supports complex training movements beyond simple walking assistance. The robot can balance and reduce injury risk, as it lowers the chance of a patient falling backwards.<\/p>\n

A new video, called \u201910M March\u2019 portrays injured soldiers using \u2018X-bleMEX\u2019 to overcome the challenges of rehabilitation and shows how the exoskeleton can reduce burdens on medical staff by assisting patient movement.The video is narrated by Jihoon Lee, who won a bronze medal in ice hockey at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, held at Pyeongchang.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hand-braking technology is at the top of the list for the IMSA racer as he works to increase speed and performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":98031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3470,5029,3713,543],"tags":[10870,10867,10868,10869,10871,395,10245,9492,955,9295,5896,7167],"class_list":["post-98030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-racing","category-road-racing","category-sports-car-racing","tag-bosch-motorsports","tag-bryan-herta-autosport","tag-harry-gottsacker","tag-hyundai-elantra-n","tag-hyundai-motor-group","tag-imsa","tag-imsa-michelin-pilot-challenge","tag-imsa-weathertech-sportscar-championship","tag-indianapolis-motor-speedway","tag-michelin-raceway-road-atlanta","tag-robert-wickens","tag-tcr"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Robert-Wickens-Hyundai-racecar.jpg-copy-min.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p42YSK-pv8","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98030"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98066,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98030\/revisions\/98066"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racingjunk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}