Wow! Just W O W! On 9/28/13, sanjay <[email protected]> wrote: > From the Braille Monitor, October 2013 > > The Blind Driver Challenge, the Quest for the Salt, and the Continued > > Journey of Innovation and Adventure > > by Mark A. Riccobono > > > > From the Editor: In a world where there is always more need than > > resource, an oft-repeated question we must address is how best to use our > > limited money and talent to advance the cause of blind people. Some argue > > for the bold and suggest we focus on those projects others dare not > > attempt; others suggest that, as long as the blind face so much poverty and > > unemployment, we should focus our efforts exclusively on improving > > education and rehabilitation. Acknowledging the arguments on both sides and > > those arguments that fall between, we strive to meet the needs of today > > while looking to the future we want to see for the blind. > > Mark Riccobono is the first blind person ever to drive a vehicle > > without sighted assistance in front of thousands at a public event. Here is > > his most recent experience, this time as an observer, as we try > > incrementally to tackle one of the most persistent barriers faced by the > > blind-transportation: > > > > [PHOTO CAPTION: Dan Parker and Mark Riccobono pose with the motorcycle that > > made Salt Flats history.] > > > > In 2011 we held the first public demonstration of technologies built > > under the Blind Driver Challenge (BDC) of the NFB. It took almost a decade > > of dreaming out loud, tolerating friendly nods by individuals who thought > > we were out of our minds, and overcoming our own uneasiness before we were > > able to secure partners to work with us on the vision for blind drivers > > that our president, Marc Maurer, laid out for us. When we finally had the > > breakthrough with bright partners who were prepared to go the distance with > > us, we knew we needed a place for the first demonstration that fit the > > significance of the moment. The famed Daytona International Speedway had > > the type of reputation equal to the challenge, and we prepared for a public > > demonstration that would help the rest of the world notice our capacity as > > blind people. Federationists came from all parts of the country to share > > the moment, even though some were still uncertain about the outcome and > > whether it was worth the sacrifice of resources that might be used for > > other important goals. > > As you know, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2011, I jumped > > into our NFB Blind Driver Challenge car, gave a thumbs up, honked the horn, > > and drove 1.5 miles of the Daytona road course. People often ask me, "What > > was it like to drive at Daytona?" And I still have trouble describing it > > exactly. Until this week I never fully understood why. This article is > > partially a report on the progress of our Blind Driver Challenge > > initiative, partially the story of our second critical milestone in that > > effort, and partially an open reflection of why the Daytona question has > > been hard to answer. > > Since the Daytona demonstration we have continued to present our > > vision for the "intersection of innovation," wherein blind people actively > > participate in building cutting-edge technologies side by side with the > > most creative inventors we can find. Sometimes we have discussed the next > > component needed to make blind driving a reality for all. At other times we > > have speculated about how our experience and perspective will intersect > > with the general direction of driving technology (both in the driverless > > car movement and within the traditional model of today's transportation > > systems). We have talked with universities, technology companies, > > designers, car companies, and hundreds of individuals whose perspective has > > been changed as a result of getting to know our blind driver work. Flying > > airplanes, riding bikes, and enhancing traditional navigation techniques > > are just some of the topics we have explored. While many ideas continue to > > get kicked around, some proposals slowly circulate, and an increasing > > number of important connections get made every month, there is not an > > immediate Daytona-like milestone identified in the immediate future. The > > true innovative nature of the Federation is that we are always seeking to > > expand the horizons of independence. It is our organizational readiness > > that allows us to quickly take advantage of the right strategic partners > > when they come. > > Enter Dan Parker-a sighted drag racer who hit a wall at 175 MPH on > > March 31, 2012, leaving him completely blind, along with other significant > > injuries. After eight months of recuperating and lying around not knowing > > what he could do as a blind person, Dan made up his mind. He had been > > riding motorcycles since he was eight, and he had extensive experience > > around, on, and in cars and motorcycles. He had always had a dream of > > racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Dan decided that the way to > > overcome the fears and limitations he had associated with blindness was to > > pursue his quest for the Salt-to build and independently run his own > > motorcycle out on the Salt Flats at a sanctioned event. > > Dan wrote to me because he wanted to learn more about our Blind > > Driver Challenge work. Before I could get back to Dan, he got in touch with > > Joanne Wilson. Joanne called me and asked if I would talk to Dan. Knowing > > that Joanne is not fooled easily, I said I would call him. Admittedly, the > > only thing that stuck in my head was that a guy went blind not long ago, > > has had no training as a blind person, and wants to race a motorcycle. I > > wondered to myself whether this guy was just trying to avoid the fact that > > he was blind or whether he really had a good plan. It did not take long > > during my first telephone conversation with Dan to realize that I was > > speaking to a guy who is humble, driven, ready to learn, and eager to give > > back. Since that first call I have had the opportunity to break bread with > > Dan, talk in depth about his quest and his hopes for the future, and > > speculate with him about where we might go next. Dan quickly found his > > local NFB chapter in Columbus, Georgia, and his spirit, actions, and words > > naturally resemble those of longtime Federationists even though he has > > known the organization for only a short time. > > For true racers "running at the Salt" is a big deal. The Bonneville > > Salt Flats is a densely packed salt pan that sits at an elevation of 4,219 > > feet in northwestern Utah. The area is said to be a remnant of the > > Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, and, at forty square miles in size, it is the > > largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake. The > > property is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and it > > was first tested for driving in 1907. The first land speed record was set > > at Bonneville in 1914 by Teddy Tetzlaff. > > The Bonneville Speedway-as it is commonly known-is frequently > > misunderstood to be a space for drag racing. Since the salt is somewhat > > slick, maintaining traction is a major concern of every racer. Therefore, > > the salt surface is not ideal for the objective of drag racing-rapid > > acceleration over a short period of time. The objective for racers at > > Bonneville is tremendous speeds achieved over great distances. Cars start > > slower than many expect, but they ultimately achieve mind-blowing speeds. > > With the tremendous open space at the flats there is plenty of room to get > > up to speed and decelerate safely. > > Five major land-speed events take place at the Bonneville Salt Flats > > (many other club and private events take place during the year). Three of > > these events welcome cars, trucks, and motorcycles-Speed Week (mid-August), > > World of Speed (September), and World Finals (early October). World records > > are contested at the Mike Cook ShootOut in September. The fifth event is > > the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials, which is exclusively for motorcycles. A > > series of timing associations organize events and certify speed records. > > Dan came to the NFB Jernigan Institute to learn more about the > > techniques and technologies used in our Blind Driver Challenge vehicle. Dan > > shared his quest with Dr. Maurer, including his plan to build his own > > customized motorcycle (doing the design and machining himself), equipping > > it with a GPS guidance system allowing him to drive the two-mile course > > independently, and entering it into the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. No > > blind person had ever entered the BUB event, and Dan had already > > successfully lobbied the organizers of the event to accept his application. > > After meeting with Dan extensively and recognizing that his quest fit > > within the vision for our NFB Blind Driver Challenge initiative, Dr. Maurer > > agreed to the NFB's sponsoring Dan's quest. While Dan had made significant > > progress on his own, he credits the NFB sponsorship for giving his quest > > the resources it needed to make it the final mile and giving him a support > > network and credibility that are unparalleled. > > At Dr. Maurer's direction I began working closely with Dan, providing > > him with the experience of our previous blind-driver work and receiving > > regular updates on his testing. About one week out from the BUB event, we > > all agreed that Dan and his machine were ready for prime time. I made my > > plans to head to the Salt Flats, along with Ilana Posner from our Jernigan > > Institute staff. Despite our advance work we really had no idea what to > > expect. > > Events at the Salt are different from anything I have ever > > encountered. It starts with the drive to the Salt. We took Interstate 80, > > exit 4, toward Bonneville/Speedway. We turned left on Leppy Pass Road. Then > > we made a slight right onto Bonneville Speedway Road-which stretched out > > for five miles, at which point the ground around us was desert-like. The > > five-mile trip brought us to a cul-de-sac where we had to secure admission > > to the BUB event. At that point we were permitted to enter the Salt, which > > started out slightly bumpy but quickly smoothed to a relatively flat, hard > > surface. Ilana said she could not see anything in the distance besides the > > white salt stretching on for miles. The only objects visible on the surface > > were the orange cones that were strategically placed to guide cars to the > > pit area. In the middle of nowhere on the salt we found a temporary racing > > community. > > A pit area stretched on for a mile. The tech area could be found at > > the end of the pits. Tech was where motorcycles were reviewed and approved > > to run. Beyond tech was the pre-staging area where motorcycles, trailers > > carrying motorcycles, chase trucks, and other support vehicles lined up > > before going to the final staging before their run. In the far distance a > > five-mile and seven-mile straight-line track was set up to accommodate one > > racer at a time. A short, ten-foot-high observation tower sat on the side > > of the track for race officials. A small food area and even a radio station > > booth could also be found in the pit area (event activities were broadcast > > on the local 89.7 FM station). > > The salt itself is hard packed and gets on everything. Coats of > > sunscreen are needed to protect from the sun and the reflection of the sun. > > Lots of drinking water is required since just being out there you can taste > > the salt on your lips. When the wind picks up with any gusto, you can > > imagine what happens. Dan explained to me that, after running his > > motorcycle on the flats, he will have to replace all of the bolts because > > of the tremendous corrosion caused by the salt. > > Dan's first task was to get approval from the tech officials for him > > and his motorcycle to run. High speed is what events on the Salt are known > > for, and safety is a central issue for all drivers. Having a blind man > > wanting to drive independently on the track raised a lot of questions. It > > took all of the first day (Sunday) to get the motorcycle ready and tested > > before the tech folks were prepared to look at it. One advantage of the > > Salt is that there is a lot of open space. The tech officials allowed the > > team to set up a temporary quarter-mile track for Dan to practice on and to > > demonstrate the motorcycle to the tech officials. > > Dan designed the motorcycle in his head based on his experience with > > vehicles and after talking to experienced Salt riders. The motorcycle was a > > beautiful, red, three-wheel-trike configuration. Dan machined much of the > > frame himself. His machine included an Aprilia RS50 engine, a five-speed > > transmission, and all Airtech streamlining. A small disc-shaped GPS unit > > was mounted on the front of the motorcycle. Sponsor logos, including those > > of the NFB and our Blind Driver Challenge, were displayed prominently on > > the body of the machine. The bike is driven with the rider lying on his > > chest in a racing position. A chest pad supports the weight of the upper > > torso, freeing the rider's arms to feel the bike's movements for better > > control. Small supports provide comfort to the rider's shins. The seat of > > the motorcycle is also red and in Dan's words "is not built for comfort." > > [PHOTO CAPTION: Dan Parker on his bike] > > On Sunday afternoon we observed Dan on his machine for the first > > time. Sporting a cool set of protective leathers with the NFB logos, > > including Whozit, Dan climbed on his machine and prepared to ride. This > > time I was the spectator, and I began reflecting upon all of my own > > feelings when learning to master driving with the blind driver > > technologies. All of us who were on Dan's team believed in what was > > possible, but I wondered whether the officials would have the same faith in > > a blind guy. When Dan cranked up and took the quarter mile at a speed > > slightly better than thirty miles an hour, I knew that, if the officials > > were open-minded, there was a good chance Dan would be permitted to run. > > After he took a number of other practice rides, my excitement grew, > > anticipating the real event to come. > > Late Sunday evening, after the official BUB events were over for the > > day, Dan had the opportunity to demonstrate his skill and approach. Now is > > the time to pause to say that all of the event staff and officials from the > > BUB, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), and the The Fidiration > > Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM-International Motorcycling Federation)- > > who interacted with the Parker team were extremely professional, helpful, > > and keenly interested. It was clear that some were not really sure why a > > blind person would want to do what Dan was seeking to do. It was equally > > clear that some did not know exactly how to deal with this first-ever set > > of circumstances. At no time did I sense that any of the race officials > > were reluctant to let Dan into the event based on blindness. If Dan could > > demonstrate that his approach worked and that adequate safety controls were > > in place, they would give him a chance based on a strong code of conduct > > among the racing community at the Salt. > > Dan's demonstration runs in front of the officials had two distinct > > disadvantages. The first was the roughness of the Salt. While the Salt is > > relatively flat, it is not well-groomed like the official track area. The > > second disadvantage was the wind. As evening draws closer, the winds at the > > Salt pick up-most riders try to make their runs early in the morning to > > avoid wind interference with their speed-record attempts. Dan would have to > > demonstrate his motorcycle at 7 p.m. when a fair amount of crosswind was > > blowing. Despite these two disadvantages, Dan showed true Federation > > determination and confidence. > > After explaining the system, the safety fallbacks, and the machine's > > components, Dan mounted for his demonstration ride. Dan's guidance system > > is comprised of a GPS unit programmed to keep him on the centerline of his > > track. As he veers to the left or right of the centerline, an increasingly > > louder frequency sounds in the left or right ear, indicating which side of > > the centerline he is on. If Dan drives too far off the centerline, the > > motorcycle automatically shuts off. The guidance approach is effectively > > the audio equivalent to the drive grip in our BDC car. Since Dan would have > > a closed course with no obstacles, his primary job was to drive as straight > > as he could to find a groove where he could get the speed up as high as > > possible. > > Dan nailed the first demonstration run, and the officials asked him > > to do it again. On the second run Dan just tripped the outer limit of his > > left boundary and the motorcycle automatically shut off. It turned out that > > this was useful because the officials wanted to know that this safety > > feature worked as the team claimed. On the next run they had the motorcycle > > intentionally driven toward the boundary to confirm that it would again > > shut down automatically. Then a couple of the officials tested the bike and > > Dan's navigation system. The event officials were impressed, and they > > quickly approved Dan to make an official pass on Monday. > > On Monday the team got to the Salt early. After prepping the > > motorcycle and testing all of the components, the team headed to the pre- > > staging area. Dan would be followed on the course by a chase truck. The > > primary purpose of the chase truck was to deliver the motorcycle to the > > starting line and get it off the course as soon as the run was over. > > However, the chase truck also allowed the team to monitor the system for > > problems and to be close to the action. Dan would have to drive a two-mile- > > long stretch. Mile one is to build speed, while the actual speed of the run > > is measured based on the start and end times achieved in mile two. Plenty > > of room is available after mile two to come to a safe stop. During mile one > > the chase truck would be directly behind Dan, but the truck would have to > > pull to the side before mile two to avoid tripping the timing devices. > > I was honored that Dan offered me a seat in the chase truck, along > > with Ronnie, a key team member and the driver of the chase truck; Jennifer, > > Dan's girlfriend; Patrick, the engineer who built the guidance system; and > > Matthew and Terry, who provided support for the motorcycle. The staging > > area was a classic case of "hurry up and wait." Once the line of riders in > > front of us began making runs, things started happening very quickly. It > > reminded me a lot of waiting and waiting in the pits at Daytona until 10:55 > > a.m. came and things moved without any time to think. The symbolism was not > > lost on me as the clock advanced towards 11 a.m. local time and Dan's turn > > approached. > > Let me return to Daytona for a moment. People often ask me about the > > experience of driving at Daytona. It was truly unparalleled. It was one of > > the most intense, yet one of the calmest moments of my life. Maybe it is > > hard to describe because the adrenaline was flowing so intensely. Maybe it > > is difficult to articulate because I had a job to do, and, while it was > > fun, it was also the most pressure-filled assignment Dr. Maurer has ever > > given me. Maybe it is hard to capture in words because it just cannot be > > adequately described. All of those things are probably true, but, as I sat > > in the chase truck, I reflected on how different the world is after > > Daytona. People asked me what I was going to say when I got out of the car > > at the finish line in Daytona, and I had a stock of great one-liners. When > > the real moment came and I hit the brake, put the car in park, and honked > > the horn, no words were equal to the demonstration itself. > > As I sat with the next person to advance our blind driver work, I > > finally understood why I could not adequately answer that question about > > Daytona. The reason is that my own thinking about the world transformed in > > that 1.5-mile drive around the Daytona road course. When I got out of the > > car and met Dr. Maurer, I no longer knew what the limits are for us as > > blind people. My perspective on the world changed during that drive. My > > understanding of the capacity we have as blind people, the tremendous > > imagination and innovation we can harness when we work together in the > > Federation, and the faith we share with each other in testing those limits > > transformed my whole outlook on where we can go next. In fact, it focused > > me on what is next and how we get there. I cannot answer the Daytona > > question adequately because Daytona is not the biggest thing we have done. > > The biggest thing is yet to come, and, if we spend too much time looking > > back, we might miss what is coming next. > > As I ran through these reflections in my mind, I pulled my Louis > > Braille coin out of my pocket. I reflected that, in the moments before the > > drive at Daytona, I was keenly aware that I was the only person that could > > screw the whole thing up, but that there could be no greater opportunity > > than to be a pioneer. That coin was with me during my drive at Daytona. I > > quietly handed Dan my Braille coin and asked him to carry it with him as a > > symbol of the bond of faith that we share with each other in the > > Federation. > > At approximately 11 a.m. mountain time on Monday, August 26, Dan > > Parker kicked off from the starting line and headed off on mile one. He > > started at a steady pace and, as he approached the beginning of mile two, > > he began to find his groove. He was going fast enough that the chase truck > > had lost pace and needed to hustle to catch back up. Early in mile one Dan > > was, at most, fourteen feet off the centerline. During mile two Dan stayed > > within four feet of the centerline, and toward the end he began to "let it > > out" and push his bike to go faster. He completed the first historic > > independent run by a blind person at Bonneville with an officially recorded > > speed of 55.331 MPH. > > This blind driver was inspired by what I witnessed on the Salt that > > day. Dan handed me my coin back, and I wondered where we might go next. Dan > > and I spent some time speculating about creating a Blind Driver Challenge > > Racing League out on the Salt, getting a junior dragster equipped with > > technology so blind youth could run the Salt, and all sorts of other > > wonderful ideas. Dan never did get to make a second run due to time > > constraints, and I am certain he would have bettered his speed by at least > > ten miles per hour on the second pass. Nevertheless, we had an opportunity > > to speculate about what is ahead for us as blind people and how we might > > get there. In Dan's words, "We achieved what we came to do, and we can now > > begin thinking about what is next." > > I did not bother to press Dan on what it felt like to race > > Bonneville. In one sense I am certain it was one of the most thrilling > > experiences he has ever had in his life. In another sense I am certain that > > he will not be able adequately to articulate it. Dan Parker is a member of > > the NFB. His spirit, determination, and eagerness to give back radiate from > > every conversation. I am quite certain he is focused on what is next. If I > > were willing to bet my Louis Braille coin on it, I am certain that the > > blind will not be disappointed with the road ahead. Our Federation > > continues our journey of innovation and adventure. We can now add high- > > speed racing to our suite of blind driver achievements and a new > > Federationist ready to put his foot on the accelerator of progress. When > > you meet Dan Parker at an upcoming Federation event, remember to welcome > > him to the Federation before you press him on what it was like to run the > > Salt. > > [PHOTO CAPTION: Dan poses triumphantly with his bike and his long white > > cane.] > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. >
-- “I don’t believe in being serious about anything. I think life is too serious to be taken seriously.” —Ray Bradbury Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
