About This Project
What happens to a racecar driver at 200 mph? The goal of the project is to measure in real-time and non-invasively the physiological responses of race car drivers during actual race events.Ask the Scientists
Join The DiscussionWhat is the context of this research?
The goal of the project is to measure in real-time and non-invasively the physiological responses of race car drivers during actual race events. Examples of these physiological variables would be core body temperature and heart rate.
What is the significance of this project?
This research is important for a number of reasons. First, training, preparation, and conditioning techniques need to be based on baseline data. However, to date, little research, if any, has ever been done on the physiological stress experienced by the racecar driver during the course of an actual race event. This project seeks to expand the understanding of what a driver experiences in an effort to develop data-based and meaningful interventions. Second, the expectations being placed on drivers is rising steadily. As technology moves the car and engine forward, the human body must keep up. Understanding what the driver is experiencing and how to best train, condition, and prepare him or her for the rigors of the cockpit is critical for their safety and performance. Third, the demographics of the driver are changing. Drivers are starting younger and racing later. Additionally, racing is no longer a male-dominated sport. More women are driving in practically every level of racing, from developmental through professional. What little we know about what the male driver is experiencing, we know even less about the female driver's experience. And lastly, the debate over whether or not racecar drivers are athletes can be resolved once and for all after we quantify what they experience and what they do, just as we have for traditional athletes.
What are the goals of the project?
The funds will be used to pay for contract specialty engineering work. The engineering work will involve the development of a micro heart rate monitor, a micro core body temperature sensor and the associated micro-electronics to control the sensor array and accurately record the data. As the project moves from prototype to proof-of-concept, it has outgrown the current lab space and capabilities and requires the input and expertise of engineers familiar with micro-technology and micro-design techniques.
Budget
$65,000.00 (USD) Contracted Engineering Support: EM Motorsport, Church Farm House Holton Oxford OX33 1PR United Kingdom Services Required: - development of sensor array o micro ECG o micro temperature sensor o data logger o interface technology o recording/storage technology
Meet the Team
Affiliates
Team Bio
Dr. Edward S. Potkanowicz is an assistant professor of exercise physiology at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Dr. Potkanowicz is also the principal investigator of an ongoing racing research project entitled “The Real Assessment of Core and Environmental Responses (“The R.A.C.E.R. Project”). Dr. Potkanowicz received his Masters and Doctorate degrees in exercise physiology from Kent State University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Youngstown State University. Dr. Potkanowicz’s line of research involves investigating the body’s thermoregulatory response to environmental stressors. His most current focus, with respect to thermoregulation, is the performance deficit that the driver athlete may experience when subjected to an extremely hot environment. Dr. Potkanowicz has spoken on several occasions at the Int'l Council of Motorsport Sciences Annual Congress on the topic of the driver athlete and the physiological rigors of auto racing. His most recent presentation was entitled "The Wired Driver: A Discussion of Biometric Sensing in the Assessment of Driver Physiological Responses". Additionally, his most recent manuscript, entitled "The Case for Driver Science in Motorsport: A Review and Recommendations" has recently been accepted for publication in the journal "Sports Medicine". As a racing enthusiast, Dr. Potkanowicz has a keen interest in uncovering and/or developing strategies for improving driver performance, as it relates to managing core body temperature and the driver's physiological response to the microenvironment of the cockpit.Edward S. Potkanowicz
Dr. Edward S. Potkanowicz is an Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. Dr. Potkanowicz is also the principal investigator of an ongoing racing research project entitled “The Real Assessment of Core and Environmental Responses (“The R.A.C.E.R. Project”). Dr. Potkanowicz received his Masters and Doctorate degrees in exercise physiology from Kent State University and his Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Youngstown State University (Go Penguins!) As an exercise physiologist with a research focus in environmental physiology, Dr. Potkanowicz’s line of research involves investigating the performance deficits that an athlete experiences when he or she is subjected to an extreme environment. His specific research focus is the performance deficit that the driver-athlete may experience when subjected to the extremely hot environment of motorsports competition.
Dr. Potkanowicz has published peer-reviewed manuscripts on the topic of driver science, has been invited to speak to the motorsports community on the topic of the driver athlete and the physiological rigors of auto racing, and has served as host for the American College of Sports Medicine's webinar series.
As a racing enthusiast, Dr. Potkanowicz has a keen interest in uncovering and/or developing strategies for improving driver performance, as it relates to managing core body temperature and the driver's physiological response to the microenvironment of the cockpit. Examples of his work can be found on his website, which is linked below.
Lab Notes
Nothing posted yet.
Additional Information
I look forward to sharing the successes and progress of the R.A.C.E.R. Project as it moves forward towards completion and implementation. Thanks for the interest, thanks for the help, and thanks for the funding. All my best, EdProject Backers
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