RallySafe
The content on this page is designed to give a brief overview of the system’s features, technology and growth – if you’re interested in finding out more, we encourage you to head over to the main RallySafe website for in depth information, videos and more.
Features
Automatic Operation
RallySafe has been designed for ease of use, first and foremost. Drivers and navigators can go an entire rally never needing to press a button; the system gives them the information they need, when they need it. Coupled to this is automatic hazard recognition – if a vehicle stops on stage, or is involved in a serious accident, the unit will send the appropriate warning to other competitors and to race control.
In car features
The system includes a slew of on-screen features to make rallying simple for drivers and navigators. These include speed, time into stage, stage times, an auto-resetting trip meter, a resettable trip meter and average speed. Also, all pertinent event information is displayed on screen when required – e.g. when the vehicle is travelling near and through a speed restriction zone.
Vehicle to Vehicle
Vehicle to vehicle communications allow for instantaneous safety warnings to be transmitted between vehicles. This greatly reduces the chances of a secondary collision, and increases understanding when approaching an accident scene. Push to pass overtaking greatly increases safety in overtaking situations, especially in inclement weather e.g. rain or dust.
Race Control
Race Control has access to multiple views of information during an event. First and foremost is the main map view, which shows the vehicles in progress during the event, and can have multiple pieces of information overlaid on it, to show current hazard information, stage & split times, stage reports etc. The dynamic progress view can support up to 8 concurrently running stages in a running bar-graph style; very useful when multiple stages are live. As well as these, there are multiple management pages showing system health, real-time stats, advanced timing information and more.
Electronic Time Controls/Starts/Finishes
RallySafe also includes an extensive suite of programs to manage a rally electronically. Intuitive programs running on tablets can be set up quickly in the field to manage time controls, stage starts, and finishes. The time control aspect of the program lets officials quickly record vehicle check ins, while the navigator also has an option to verify their checked in time – this information is sent directly to race control so that results can be compiled as soon as possible. The stage start aspect allows the official to easily select a time for the vehicle to start, and to then issue the vehicle that time. This allows each vehicle a customized countdown on their unit, and means that a traditional start clock is not needed at the start line. The finish program shows finish times as the cars cross the line, so that it can be independently recorded.
All of this allows stage crew numbers to be reduced dramatically, allowing for huge savings for events.
Virtual Spectating
Timing and tracking information is made available to the public through two streams – our web application, and our mobile applications. Both allow the public to follow along with the rally as it’s in progress, seeing times live and staying up to date on where the cars are. Spectators love being able to know who’s coming along on stage next, or what the time was of the car who’s just finished.
Advanced Timing
RallySafe utilises a high-frequency GPS chip in conjunction with our own interpolation algorithms to provide highly accurate, instant timing for rally events. The system can be also be run with our timing beams, which stage crews set up at the stage finish to provide a backup timing source.
Event Types
RallySafe supports multiple event types & formats, including:
- A-to-A Rallies
- A-to-B Rallies
- Navigational Rallies
Customisation
As well as the above international forms of rallying, RallySafe has been developed as to allow all the features of the system to be turned on and off, depending on the specific requirements of the event.
Technology
Global satellite communications
Every vehicle equipped with a RallySafe system is enabled for two-way communications with race control. This allows information to be sent to the people who need to know about it, when they need to know about it.
High-frequency GPS
We use the very latest in high-frequency, high-precision GPS chips. They allow us to record accurate times based off geo-positioning and our own interpolation algorithms, provide accurate tracking for vehicle monitoring and emergency situations, and record high-frequency speed data for average speed, max speeds etc.
Lightning fast GSM connectivity
RallySafe mixes communication mediums when possible. When a vehicle is in range of a GSM tower, the unit can be configured to send high-frequency tracking updates – enabling race control and spectators to see where the competitors are, in real time.
High speed radio
When vehicles are heading towards a collision at high speeds, every millisecond counts. Our high-frequency radios form an instantaneous mesh network to provide vehicle-to-vehicle alerts, as well as provide communications redundancy – if a vehicles antenna has been destroyed in an accident, the information can leap-frog through another vehicle to notify race control.
Mobile Ready
Our apps are available on Android and iPhone, allowing spectators more information than ever before, at the push of a button. All tracking and timing updates are pushed out to every connected device, as they happen.
Cloud-hosted reliability
We use two of the worlds leading cloud-hosting providers to both store and transmit our data around the world. They allow us to scale our services worldwide whilst providing market-leading reliability and redundancy.
Easy to use programs
Any of the extended RallySafe programs to manage time controls, stage starts and finishes are all designed with ease of use in mind. Running on modern touchscreen tablets, they require minimum training time, minimum setup time and are compact for travelling.
Patented Technology
RallySafe is protected by an international Patent regarding the key technology used in the system.
Growth
Since its inception in 2009 RallySafe has taken the rallying world by storm. Originally the system was only available in Australia, but has now spread to supporting events in countries as diverse as New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and China, with test events underway across Europe, North America, and Canada. The system is in use in every event in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. In Australia, the system is the primary timing provider for the Australian Tarmac Championship, and is in use in the Australian Rally Championship, as well as multiple smaller tarmac and regional events and championships. In New Zealand, it is the primary timing provider for the New Zealand Rally Championship, as well as in use in multiple smaller events including the iconic Silver Fern Rally.
One of RallySafe’s core concepts is that the system can run anywhere in the world, any time. Our global satellite access and cloud-based hosting allows us to run multiple events simultaneously, literally anywhere on the planet. If you’d like to know about running RallySafe at an event, please use the buttons below to read more on the dedicated RallySafe website or to get in touch.