First Semi-Autonomous Vehicle License Given to IndyCar Team Owner

Other Accessible Living Articles: 

First Semi-Autonomous Vehicle License Given to IndyCar Owner


BraunAbility Board Member Makes History With First Semi-Autonomous Driver's License

The first person to receive a restricted driver's license for a semi-autonomous vehicle and make history is BraunAbility customer, friend, and board member Sam Schmidt. In 2016, Sam worked with the Nevada DMV to become the first ever person awarded a driver's license that would allow him to legally drive his specialty semi-autonomous car on Nevada public roads under restricted conditions.

What is a Semi-Autonomous Vehicle?

Unlike an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle is characterized as being operated seemingly on its own without the aid of physical hand or foot movements, and instead controlled with advanced technologies using a combination of infrared cameras and sip-and-puff technology.

More About Sam Schmidt

Sam is a retired IndyCar Series driver who has been paralyzed from the neck down since 2000 who later went on to become a successful IndyCar team owner. Working with Arrow Electronics, the semi-autonomous motorcar -- SAM car -- was created; Sam experienced the thrill of reaching 152 mph during testing on his old stomping grounds, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, using a custom headset and only the movements of his head and mouth to turn and accelerate, respectively.

Arrow started to develop the SAM car in 2014. Over the past year, they worked with the Nevada DMV to update their regulations to allow semi-autonomous vehicles to drive on state roads. On September 28, 2016, Sam became the first person in the country to receive a license in accordance with the new regulations.

"For the first time in 18 years, I'm just a driver," said Sam.

Sam has never been far from racing or advocacy for the disabled community since the accident. Following his recovery from the crash, he co-founded his racing team, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He also founded Conquer Paralysis Now, which funds spinal cord injury research; through it, Sam hopes he will not just drive, but walk again. Now, he's going down in history as the first person to receive a license of this kind and to drive in public using Arrow's revolutionary technology.

"Getting a driver's license is not the end of the road, but it is the ultimate example to tell the world you can absolutely accomplish anything, if you combine resources with the right group committed to a common cause," Sam said in a press release. "It has truly been a life-changing experience for me and my family."

Sam's daughter, Savannah, asked, "What's the first thing you are going to do now that you have a license?"

His response, "Take you out on a date."

LIVE CHAT WITH AN AGENT