Drivers eye POV camera angle?

[Zico]

Join in an installation lap around Barcelona with Lucas di Grassi - first time ever eye-level camera real driver point of view.
Quote:" I had to drive with only one eye open as the camera was blocking my other eye, quite tricky"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=m3DY7HIjXMc

Its probably just a Go-pro Hd wideangle motorsport camera but it works very well dont you think?
It would obviously have to be incorporated in/on-to the drivers helmet somehow. If Bernie enforced a camera option like this, I think it would add more depth, give more feeling to the viewer of the G's and vibrations involved.

Opinions?

[bella]

it's an interesting look at exactly what a driver *does* see from the cockpit and in those pants mirrors. hopefully it'll silence a couple of the armchair racers who think there's considerably more visibility than there actually is!

[Marbot]

That's a great insight (sorry) into what an F1 driver can actually see. Bigger mirrors for (some) F1 drivers definitely need looking into (sorry), but they're no worse than the ones on my Ducati (great view of elbows!), and 100% better than anything on a racing motorcycle. Maybe it'll come up at the next TWG meeting or at the next WMSC meeting?

Great video!

[Zico]

Originally Posted by bella

it's an interesting look at exactly what a driver *does* see from the cockpit and in those pants mirrors. hopefully it'll silence a couple of the armchair racers who think there's considerably more visibility than there actually is!

I agree, It's time the FIA mandated a decent size/spec of mirror.

[tristancliffe]

The camera is about half an inch to an inch too high, so it gives the impression you can't see much in the mirrors and that you can see lots of the front tyres. I suspect, if it was a GoPro, then it was put in sideways somehow so it took up less visor width, and the offset lens was nearer the top of the visor aperture.

[JamesH]

As mentioned in the Hamilton wrong place thread, as he goes round the corner he looks at the apex, not to the other side just in case there is a car there. And he wasn't even going fast.

Great video.

[3point0v8]

It's really incredible how clear, and especially stable the camera is. It would be amazing to see around Monaco.

[Bononi]

That's awesome !

[Chatters]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

The camera is about half an inch to an inch too high, so it gives the impression you can't see much in the mirrors and that you can see lots of the front tyres. I suspect, if it was a GoPro, then it was put in sideways somehow so it took up less visor width, and the offset lens was nearer the top of the visor aperture.

I'm not exactly sure what sort of camera it was, but it was definitely mounted inside Di Grassi's helmet. If it doesn't seem like he's going that fast it's because the camera actually blocked the view out of one of his eyes!

Another thing to keep in mind is that the camera only points in the direction his head is, not where his eyes are looking. Barrichello for instance almost seems to turn his head away from the corner when he turns in.

[ECW Dan Selby]

I wonder if there's technology good enough to merge two seperate images like two seperate eye-balls?

I might be talking rubbish here, but if they could mount a small camera either side, then it'd balance it out if they could find a way to merge them. I think that's actually impossible though the more I think about it...

Or perhaps making it 3D out of it? I know that's done on side-by-side..

Selby

[MagnetON]

Many years ago (2003 if my memory is correct?) there was some in-race footage of CART at Brands Hatch, I believe the camera was mounted in the helmet lining at driver eye level. So it's obviously not THAT hard to do.

[Chatters]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Many years ago (2003 if my memory is correct?) there was some in-race footage of CART at Brands Hatch, I believe the camera was mounted in the helmet lining at driver eye level. So it's obviously not THAT hard to do.

Courtesy of Mr. Paul Tracy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3CLCPhYQfc

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

I wonder if there's technology good enough to merge two seperate images like two seperate eye-balls?

I might be talking rubbish here, but if they could mount a small camera either side, then it'd balance it out if they could find a way to merge them. I think that's actually impossible though the more I think about it...

Or perhaps making it 3D out of it? I know that's done on side-by-side..

Selby

Well, merging two images from side by side cameras is basically how 3D works. Easily done in real time nowadays, although not in HD if you want it really cheap. Next year....no problem.

I reckon it would be worth attaching a 3D camera to a helmet at some point - that would really get the adrenalin going.

[tristancliffe]

Originally Posted by Chatters

I'm not exactly sure what sort of camera it was, but it was definitely mounted inside Di Grassi's helmet. If it doesn't seem like he's going that fast it's because the camera actually blocked the view out of one of his eyes!

Another thing to keep in mind is that the camera only points in the direction his head is, not where his eyes are looking. Barrichello for instance almost seems to turn his head away from the corner when he turns in.

I don't doubt the camera was in the helmet looking out of the visor, but the lens is too high compared to normal eye level. Look in the mirrors - you can only see the rear tyres, whereas they would be set so that the driver can just see the top of them. So take this video with a pinch of salt. Rear visibility is fine in F1. The problem is drivers not looking.

[Bononi]

What about Robert Kubica at Monza : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpLjv...ure=grec_index