Arrow Electronics Showcases SAM Car in Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Panel Hosted by The Henry Ford Museum
DENVER, Colo., March 1, 2021 /3BL Media/ – Arrow Electronics celebrated National Engineering Week by participating in a virtual panel on the future of autonomous vehicles hosted by The Henry Ford Museum. Presented by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Autonomous Vehicles: Solving Problems and Driving Changes, featured Arrow Engineer Grace Doepker, a lead member of the Semi-Autonomous Motorcar (SAM) team.
“With our SAM car project, our whole goal was to get more people behind the wheel and able to drive in new ways,” said Doepker during the panel.
Arrow’s SAM Car Project enables drivers with physical disabilities to experience mobility and independence again through the power of technology. The car is a smart, connected Corvette that was modified to allow a quadriplegic former race car driver to race again, using head controls and voice commands.
Doepker worked on developing the vehicle’s IR tracking systems, increasing the reliability of the camera systems, incorporating new technologies such as communications systems, blind spot and rear-view cameras, as well as adding additional safety features into the car. She joined Arrow in 2015.
The panel was part of the museum’s THF Conversations series, which features leaders in their field as they discuss topics and challenges facing society today. In addition to discussing the positive impact of AV technology on accessibility limitations, participants also talked about how to prepare the workforce for AV tech.
Arrow is a long-time supporter of The Henry Ford Museum and sponsors the annual Invention Convention competition for K-12 students, which the museum hosts annually.
About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) guides innovation forward for over 180,000 leading technology manufacturers and service providers. With 2020 sales of $29 billion, Arrow develops technology solutions that improve business and daily life. Learn more at FiveYearsOut.com.
