Use of Earpieces during Competition

[DaveL]

Originally Posted by Andrew_L

But what about cans connected by string?

Sniped

Or fiber optical cable with coders/decoders?

[dtengineering]

The driver could, presumably, wear a headset with a stabilized camera focused on a phone or tablet of a team member in the stands. The tablet could display an image of the sound waves it is picking up, and the headset could decipher those images to recreate sounds to pipe into the driver's ears.

Now technically that is wireless communication, but it is a sufficiently cool hack that it might just be allowed.

It might also be possible to use a parabolic mic and amplifier pointed at a team member in the spectator area. Once could argue that it isn't a method of wireless communication, but merely one of selective amplification of existing data channels.

And then smile graciously and take the system back to the pit when asked to do so.

Jason

[jdunston94]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

Slightly off-topic: A couple of years back, there was a drive coach who got permission to use a loudspeaker, worn around the neck, to communicate with the drivers. Without it, the coach might not have been heard -- I think the problem was laryngitis.

I guess a bullhorn would have been equally effective, but a neck speaker connected to a headset mike kept the coach's hands free. I imagine the appropriate volume set point was a topic of discussion in that team's pit.

She still uses it to this day. The difference is she is the drive coach standing right behind her drivers.. not connected to someone who is not behind the glass like the OP wanted to do.

[Michael Hill]

Remember, using your voice to produce sound is "wireless communication"

[Skyehawk]

Originally Posted by jdunston94

She still uses it to this day. The difference is she is the drive coach standing right behind her drivers.. not connected to someone who is not behind the glass like the OP wanted to do.

I just skimmed the tread (so this may be redundant) but the drive coach I am aware of that does this is team 27 R.U.S.H's coach (National Woodie Flowers Award winner). I imagine she has it tuned to a rather specific volume, a bullhorn may be overkill.