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Johnny Beer applied 2 years ago to compete in the 2020 Cybathlon, but was worried his bike was just not good enough. Berkelbike didn't have the expertise and resources to make the developments he required. He has been using crowd funding to keep his dreams alive. This at least gives you the back ground of the challenges him and Berkelbike his bike sponsors were up against.
When you read about a good story you need to let others know as there is good people out there helping others. Johnny Beer had a trampoline accident and is paralyzed from the chest down. He visited the Mercedes Formula One factory in Brackley and happened to get talking to Eric Blandin who happens to be Mercedes top Aerodynamicist for the racing team.
It must have been fate or Johnny's lucky day as Eric became intrigued in what Johnny does as he races bikes using electric impulses to make his legs move. Mercedes has an Applied Science Department which takes on all sorts of challenges. This is made up of specialist engineers that take on projects outside of motor racing. They have been working with Team Ineos helping them with the upcoming Americas Cup which is of course sailing. They are specialist problem silvers using data and innovation.
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Some of the team that helped out with Johnny.
Eric through talking to Johnny was hooked on helping him and got the Applied Science team involved. Once they heard the story and what the needs were they started to work on a special bike to help him achieve a goal he had set himself. He wants to not only participate in the Cybathlon 2020 but he wants to win it as well. The race is not like a race we all think of, but a bike on a stationary platform on rollers this year due to Covid with the race covering a distance of 1200 meters. This guy is paralyzed from the chest down and doesn't have the function of his arms either. The race starts today and ends tomorrow so I will follow how he does.
The Applied Science team came up with the following building a bike where he can use his chin to control the electronic pulses going to his legs. The team built a set of custom made carbon fiber boots, custom made hubs leading to a larger axle for bigger wheels plus specially made ceramic bearing. The back wheel can also be adjusted at a different angle with a camber adjustment tilting inwards or outwards.
I think it is great that just because you are paralyzed it doesn't mean you still can't keep your legs strong even if they are not "functional" via the brain. Some athletes are training 3 times a week using nerve electric pulses and possibly one day with enough study and a bit of luck could walk again.
The Applied Science Department has only been operational for a very short time and were behind the ventilators for the NHS recently along with other Formula One teams. They did develop the portable hand held ventilator which has been received as not only life changing, but also life saving in some cases.
This specialist department has already been working on many projects including a lighter than air vehicle. They are not only involved with automotive advancements but also other sports such as sailing, cycling and various winter sports. They have also been targeting businesses as their innovative ideas can solve many problems making things no one thought was possible. These guys are like the NASA or what it used to be anyway but privately funded.
Mercedes was smart to set this new Department up as it will no doubt be self sufficient plus will no longer be part of the Formula One budget. They can work on developing new things alongside developing new ideas for the racing car. No doubt those ideas will then be sold to Mercedes at a special rate which will then make it's way not only into the racing team, but also into the road cars.
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To give you an idea of how far and how quickly Mercedes is developing yesterday they smashed the record at the Nordschleife (Nürburgring) for a luxury class sedan. This is the standard road car with no extra or additional features. The time of 7 minutes 27 seconds is the same time as the McLaren MP4 and a whopping 25 seconds quicker than the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560. They are only 0.3 of a second behind the Ferrari Superfast and after this showing expect them to beat this record in the future.
