A quadriplegic was challenged to do what seemed impossible: drive a race car with mind control. The film presents Rodrigo Mendes, a global leader for disability-rights, who is fan of Formula1 and loved to drive, until he lost his body movements at 18. Rodrigo was really exited and got very surprised by the car we built for him. It’s just like a Formula1 and has #respect all over it. Our technician explains how the EEG helmet scanner connects his brainwaves to the computer and the mechanical system of the car. On the pit road, Rodrigo tries speeding up and turning left and right. There is great expectation when he finally hits the track and becomes the first quadriplegic to drive a race car with mind control. At the end, a message that respect for our differences is the bases of equality. "Limits can be overcome. So, can prejudice”. #Respect

How to make a race car be driven by brain impulses? How to combine different technologies and integrate them inside and outside the cockpit? And how to do this with a low budget?

Our innovation team combined EEG brain powered technology, steering algorithms and track mapping.

For safety reasons, the car horsepower and speed was reduced. And it were developed a monitoring system of speed control, temperature and heart rate of the pilot.

To make it easier for Rodrigo to get in and out of the car, we took some equipments out, like pedals and the steering wheel. Who needs a steering wheel to drive anyway?

As it was a social responsibility project, we got many things pro-bono and cost price, such as the racetrack, a film producer and even the car construction.

It was 7 months and more than 100 people working together in this project.

Brazil has 45 million people with some disability. 53.8% are out of the work market. Illiteracy rate amongst disabled people older than15 is of 81.7%. These data show we live in a prejudiced society in which disabilities stand out more than capabilities. We need a big idea to show that respect for differences is the bases of equality and barriers imposed by society can be overcome. Our driver, Rodrigo Mendes, is the founder of Rodrigo Mendes Institute and a global leader for disability-rights. To make this mind race possible, we built a car adapted to his conditions and developed an hybrid technology combining EEG brain powered scanner, steering algorithm and track mapping. We took advantage of Brazilians’ passion for Formula 1 to launch the film during the broadcasting of the opening season with the most famous sportscaster.