Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Live From Daytona 500: BSI Prioritizes Consistent Testing, Driver Safety With Visor Cam

16/02/2020

Live From Daytona 500: BSI Prioritizes Consistent Testing, Driver Safety With Visor Cam The company is using the iconic race to test improvements to picture quality By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor

Saturday, February 15, 2020 - 5:40 pm

Print This Story | Subscribe

Story Highlights

Embracing a stock-car-racing lifestyle comes with risks. Reaching speeds upwards of 200 mph, drivers face danger at every turn. At the Daytona 500, Broadcast Sports International (BSI) will give fans a glimpse of what it's like behind the wheel with Visor Cams on the helmets of two participating drivers: No. 48 Jimmie Johnson and No. 77 Ross Chastain.

The helmet of both Jimmie Johnson (pictured here) and Ross Chastain will be equipped with a Visor Cam.

NASCAR has been great over the years about having this gear in the cars, says Peter Larsson, president, BSI. They've really gone a long way to make sure that the cars that aren't carrying a camera have the equivalent weights and aerodynamic shape.

MORE FROM DAYTONA 500

Fox Sports Headlines 20th Consecutive Year With FPV Racing Drone, 80-Ft. Strada Crane

SMT Digitizes 62-Year-Old Race With Broadcast, Team Data-Tracking

Fox Sports' Mike Davies and Dave Hill Preview the Network's 20th Consecutive Season

NASCAR Productions Embraces At-Home Production Model for Super Bowl of Racing

Game Creek Video Provides Total Structural Backbone in the Compound

Fox Sports Stresses Audio From the Loudest Sport on Earth

Photo Gallery: A Weekend at the Daytona 500

Guess and Check: Testing Becomes a Crucial Step in the Process

In special cases like the Visor Cam, the BSI team did their due diligence in the research and development lab. Over the past six months, testing was done to ensure that Johnson and Chastain would be equipped with a reliable and durable product.

There were tests where they would put the helmet on a big steel block and drop these heavy weights on it, because one of the big things that you didn't want to happen was there be enough mass or solidness left in the camera that it could split the helmet open in a severe impact, says Larsson. There also was a lot of sled testing where they would put a dummy in a sled with weight and slide it down a 30-ft. path into a brick wall.

In the testing stages, the technical team wanted to make sure that, during a crash, the camera would essentially disintegrate and detach from the driver's helmet.

There's a certain range of motion that your neck can expand before it will sustain any permanent damage, he says. [NASCAR] wanted to see if there was going to be an increase in movement because of the extra weight. So they did an awful lot of work to make sure that there'd be no extra danger.

Some drivers may deem this application a bit intrusive, but BSI reassured them on the effort's intended purpose and gained their trust.

The biggest concern was an issue of liability because there's a big difference between a driver's choosing to put a GoPro-esque device on a helmet and our telling them to do it, Larsson explains. There are still some drivers that say no, and that's fine, but we tried to make [this device] as small, light, and non-intrusive as possible.

These helmet POV cameras will give fans a view from the driver's perspective.

Prepare for the Worst: Development for Possible Contingency Plans

As Johnson and Chastain fly down the track, the chance of these POV cameras going offline greatly increases. Despite all the testing that these cameras went through, a high-speed impact could potentially do severe damage. All Larsson and his team can do is hold their breath and hope for the best possible result.

It's in the lap of the TV gods at that point, says Larsson. In the old days at Daytona, the pit stops, albeit intense, were a little more leisurely. [NASCAR] would actually let us get in and get to the stuff in the car. [My team] does a good job at testing, but it's just going to be what it's going to be.

In case something actually breaks, BSI has a building in the infield near pit row that turns into a makeshift repair shop.

If it breaks, he explains, you can get two bad pieces and get enough to create substantial machining capabilities back in the office. The camera shop will fix anything that we send them. We lose very few [cameras], he adds. If there is a wreck or something like that, the only time we actually lose equipment is if there's a fire or when the cars [slide] into the wall.

Same Sport, Different Procedure: How Visor Cam Changes for Indy 500

NASCAR isn't the only motorsport where Visor Cams make an appearance. In 3 months, the Indianapolis 500 will deploy these cameras on certain drivers on the IndyCar circuit. Besides the car's being an entirely different structure, other challenges come with what would seem a similar camera deployment.

The basic concepts are the same, Larsson points out. Indy is a specific animal just because the speeds are so fast, and, with the catch fencing, the RF is more difficult.

RF implementation varies given the different capacities at each venue. Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for example, seats about 235,000 people and, with the area in the infield, can accommodate about 400,000. Daytona International Speedway, on the other hand, seats about 101,500 people, with a maximum of about 168,000 including the infield.

You go up there, set up, test, and you think everything's all right, but, when race day comes [at the Indy 500], everything is totally different because you start getting all these microwaves that are sitting in the stands, Larsson adds. Since Daytona is a much more open environment, the [team] has a lot more experience to know exactly where things need to be to get a better product out there.

Always Improving: BSI Uses Daytona T
LINK: https://www.sportsvideo.org/2020/02/15/live-from-daytona-500-bsi-prior...
See more stories from svg

North America Stories

06/02/2026

Chris Myers Joins Net Insight as SVP of Sales, Americas

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/02/2026

Sen. Cruz Announces Hearing on Broadcast Media Ownership Rules

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/02/2026

NAB Show Relocates TV and Radio HQ To LVCC Central Hall

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/02/2026

Sony Solutions Widely Deployed for Super Bowl LX in San Francisco

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/02/2026

Telemundo Puerto Rico Launches In Mainland U.S.

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

06/02/2026

February 05, 2026

How invisible vaccine scaffolding boosts HIV immune response Scripps Research scientists designed a DNA scaffold that carries HIV vaccine proteins into the bo...

05/02/2026

Tech Focus: Wireless Audio, Part 2 - RF Mics Have a Key Role in Sports Broadcasting

Three examples of how wireless microphones are deployed to bring fans in deep an...

05/02/2026

Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra Camera To Capture the Opening Ceremony

Broadcast coverage will include 25 cameras distributed around the venues, including to some athletes; Galaxy AI Interpreter will also be deployed The Opening C...

05/02/2026

Kiswe to Power Mountain West Conference's New Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Platform

Kiswe has partnered with the Mountain West Conference to power the next iteratio...

05/02/2026

NBCUniversal, Roku Launch the NBC Winter Olympics Experience

NBCUniversal and Roku announce the launch of the 2026 NBC Winter Olympics Experience, a destination delivering NBCUniversal's comprehensive CTV coverage of ...

05/02/2026

Vizrt Transforms Corporate Communications with AI-Powered Augmented Reality in Zoom

Vizrt, which specializes in live production technology as well as transforming v...

05/02/2026

Canon Intros RF7-14mm Fisheye Zoom, RF14mm Prime Lens

Canon USA has launched the RF7-14mm F2.8-3.5 L fisheye STM zoom lens and the RF14mm F1.4 L VCM prime lens. Building on Canon's legacy of innovative optics, ...

05/02/2026

UMass Lowell's Tsongas Center Upgrades with Ikegami UHK-X600 Cameras

The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts has chosen Ikegami cameras for incorporation into its broadcast-quality television production facili...

05/02/2026

Exchange, NBCUniversal to Provide Service Members with Free Streaming of Winter Olympics

Once again, service members and Veterans worldwide will enjoy free access to NBC...

05/02/2026

Advanced Systems Group Appoints Industry Veteran Derek Pezzotti to Lead Sports and Venue Market Growth

Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media ...

05/02/2026

Broadcast Management Group Expands Management Team to Support Managed Services and Live Production Growth

Broadcast Management Group (BMG) is strengthening its leadership team to support...

05/02/2026

NBC Sports Selects Comcast Technology Solutions for Production of Winter Olympics

NBC Sports selects Comcast Technology Solutions (CTS) to provide multiscreen vid...

05/02/2026

AIM Sports Group Enhances AIM Sportsplex With Spiideo's Advanced Automated Video Technology

AIM Sports Group, a sports enterprise dedicated to elevating youth athletics thr...

05/02/2026

Inside the 2026 Milano Cortina IBC: How Tech Makes a Difference for Rightsholders, Fans, the Environment

Designed for efficient use of shared services and resources, the home of OBS pro...

05/02/2026

SVG Students To Watch: Brandon Malin, University of Michigan

The Yankees fan from Connecticut is executive producer of BTN StudentU for the Wolverines In the live-sports-video industry, the future is bright. Our series S...

05/02/2026

OBS Is Ready To Deliver for Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony

In an Olympic first, the ceremony will be held in four locations simultaneously...

05/02/2026

Remembering Charlie Jablonski, an Olympic Broadcasting Legend

Members of the broadcast and tech communities share four decades of memories of the technology leader The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics are upon us, and every O...

05/02/2026

NBC Sports Has an Army of Technology Providers Supporting Winter Olympics Production

Key vendors include Appear, Audio-Technica, Canon, Chyron, Cisco, Comcast Techno...

05/02/2026

HC-130J Aircraft Enhances Coast Guard Readiness

A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J aircraft during a test flight at L3Harris' facility in Waco, Texas....

05/02/2026

Al Seer Marine and L3Harris Deepen Strategic Agreement to Advance Maritime Unmanned Systems in the Middle East

Al Seer Marine and L3Harris have announced a strategic partnership combining UAE...

05/02/2026

Football And Younger Viewers Drive Ad Supported TV Viewing To 2025 High, Nielsen's Q4 2025 Ad Supported Gauge Finds

During this period, streaming comprised the majority of ad supported TV (45.6%),...

05/02/2026

New Orlando TV Station Focuses On Puerto Rican Viewers

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

Teads, Google TV Partner To Grow CTV HomeScreen Ad Availability

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

Advanced Systems Group Appoints Industry Veteran Derek Pe...

Advanced Systems Group, LLC (ASG), a technology and services provider for media creatives and content owners, announced the appointment of Derek Pezzotti as Sen...

05/02/2026

Taurus Technologies Elevates Podcast Production with Brig...

Taurus Technologies, a Dallas-area professional AV systems integrator, has upgraded its in-house podcast studio with Brightline Lighting's AV/720 low-voltag...

05/02/2026

NBC Sports Selects Production Infrastructure and Signal P...

NBC Universal to Present XXV Olympic Winter Games Feb. 6-22 and Milan Cortina Paralympics March 6-15 NBC Sports to Utilize Grass Valley's Frame Rate Conver...

05/02/2026

Atomos Unveils All New Shogun AV-19

Atomos today announced Shogun AV-19, a rack-mountable, 19-inch 4K HDR monitor-recorder-switcher designed for professional live production, broadcast, and video ...

05/02/2026

Vizrt revolutionizes corporate communications with AI-pow...

Vizrt, the leader in live production technology, revolutionizing viewer experience and engagement, today introduces two brand new solutions in partnership with ...

05/02/2026

Appear Appoints Simon Frost as Chief Marketing Officer to...

Appear, a global leader in live production technology, today announced the appointment of Simon Frost in a newly created role as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). ...

05/02/2026

Noah Chamis ICLS Illuminates Only Murders in the Building...

New York gaffer Noah Chamis, ICLS ( You Deserve Each Other , The Half of It , Project Runway ) practices a mix of technical precision and creative play in his...

05/02/2026

NBC Sports Deploys Audio-Technica Microphones for Winter Olympics

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

Hemisphere Media Group, Entravision Launch WAPA Orlando

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

SMT Providing Timing And Production Data Services for Winter Olympics

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

05/02/2026

The Final Season of 'Turn of the Tide' Premieres on April 10

Back to All News The Final Season of Turn of the Tide Premieres on April 10 Entertainment 05 February 2026 GlobalSpainPortugal Link copied to clipboard Do...

05/02/2026

Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit Present the Dutch Version of 'Love Is Blind'

Back to All News Nicolette van Dam and Bas Smit Present the Dutch Version of Lo...

05/02/2026

GeForce NOW Celebrates Six Years of Streaming With 24 Games in February

Break out the cake and green sprinkles - GeForce NOW is turning six. Since launch, members have streamed over 1 billion hours, and the party's just getting...

04/02/2026

Save the Date: SVG Regional Sports Production Summit Heads to Denver June 29-30

The 11th-annual Summit will not only the unprecedented headwinds facing the business, but also the groundbreaking opportunities for the future....

04/02/2026

2026 Grammy Awards Audio Team Collaborates for Live Broadcast

Just moments before the 2026 Grammy Awards kicked off, members of the event's audio team assembled for a group photo at the base of the stage inside Los Ang...

04/02/2026

Riedel Connects Live Surgery and Medical Professionals at VISAR 2025

At the Vienna Interdisciplinary Symposium on Aortic Repair (VISAR), Riedel Communications' Managed Technology Division delivered a turnkey technical infrast...

04/02/2026

Mountain West Announces New Media Rights Package in Collaboration with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CW Network, and Kiswe

The Mountain West Conference announces a new media rights package featuring CBS ...

04/02/2026

NFL 2026 International Games Announced in Madrid, Mexico, and Paris

Earlier this week, the NFL announced it would play regular season games in Madrid, Paris, and Mexico City in 2026 as part of a nine-game international schedule,...

04/02/2026

Super Bowl Halftime Show Preview: PA Speakers on Wheels Return for Football-Meets-Music Event

Custom-built carts carry music speakers for Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime S...

04/02/2026

Wireless Audio, Part 1: RF Does More With Less, Because It Has To

In an era of constrained spectrum, two tactics have emerged: work closely with regulatory bodies and utilize engineering chops The Federal Communications Commi...

04/02/2026

Wireless Audio, Part 2: RF Mics Have a Key Role in Sports Broadcasting

Three examples of how wireless microphones are deployed to bring fans in deep and up close Microphone manufacturers have myriad ways to put wireless to work fo...

04/02/2026

Sennheiser Is Moving to Music City

The mic manufacturer will join other suppliers in the new Rock Nashville production campus Sennheiser is relocating its U.S. headquarters from its long-time lo...