3 October 2002: An innovative miniature helmet-mounted head-up display system developed by BMW will be incorporated into Williams F1 driver Ralf Schumacher's helmet in the next Formula 1 season.

The display system was devised by the BMW Technology Office, based in Silicon Valley in California, in collaboration with DesignworksUSA in Newbury Park, CA, Kopin Corp., a semiconductor manufacturer located in Taunton, Mass. and German helmet manufacturer Schuberth. Tests are scheduled to be completed later this year.

A module integrated into the helmet stores various messages and images in a data-set which can be called up from the pits and displayed to the driver. The mini head-up display projects the relevant 'transparent' image through the visor. That image is level with the front of the car. The driver receives the information without being distracted from what is happening on the track.

The mini head-up display enables the projection of any number of optical messages into the driver's direct field of vision. For Formula One testing, the miniature display was integrated into the chin cup of a modified Schuberth RF-1 racing helmet. Additional walls and padding were used in accordance with guidelines from the SNELL Foundation (the helmet safety organization). The system is located in the peripheral vision field of the driver's dominant eye. Thanks to the unique design, the information is projected into the driver's field of vision without his having to actually look at the display.

The driver is constantly informed of his position in the race and can receive instructions from the pits during a race or in training.

The system is likely to be further developed for uses in production cars.