Magnetti Marelli has developed a high-speed camera that will be used in analysing F1 crashes, according to FormulaSpy.
The camera, which is not much larger than a USB stick, records at 400fps and will be mounted on the front roll structure of the car, facing the driver. They will be trialled in Friday practice towards the end of the season, before a planned full introduction in 2016.
It is hoped that the camera will be able to determine the main components of driver injuries, following a series of open cockpit accidents and fatalities in recent years. This data could well play a part in the development of closed cockpits for future Formula 1 cars.
The safety recordings will be compressed and stored on the accident data recorder that is compulsory in every car, along with the current speed, acceleration, deceleration and load data.
Should the Formula 1 cameras prove successful, Magnetti Marelli will offer cheaper versions to the lower formulae – though all will feature the 16 times higher 400fps rate.
