Source: www.oracleracing.com

BMW's technology office in Palo Alto California developed a miniature heads-up display that put real-time race information directly and wirelessly into the sunglasses of individual sailors on Oracle BMW Racing's America's Cup boat. Originally, this technology was developed for Ralf Schumacher's Formula 1 helmet.

With boat performance data being projected directly in his eyes, an Oracle BMW Racing sailor is able to concentrate better on his tasks without having to struggle to read the conventional displays. An onboard interface unit provides information of the sailboat's telemetry system and sends this individually tailored data to the display on the sailor's sunglasses. Fast and accurate access to this information can provide a distinct performance advantage.

Eric Doyle, part of Oracle's afterguard, tested the system during the Semi Final Repechage and is enthusiastic about the device: "I sit in the very back of the boat and sometimes I struggle to see the instruments through bodies. Instead of trying to move them out the way, it's got a tiny screen. So I don't have to keep turning around to look at them all the time", the 1999 Star World Champion explains.

The wireless link has been designed to operate solely within the parameter of the sailboat. Due to regulations and the short operating range it is not possible to send data from off the boat to the sunglass receivers. Oracle BMW Racing sponsors, TAG HEUER have provided TAG Sport Vision sunglasses, which BMW have modified to incorporate into the system.