- Cobra UK proves its insurance telematics and mobile CCTV
technologies on Ulster Rally
- Insurance telematics box records G forces of up to 13G during
the rally
- Global Live delivered high quality live streaming data and
imagery for the 14 special stages
Cobra UK joined in the success of Marshall Clarke and Keith
Cronin's win of the Rally Northern Ireland in a Citroen DS3 by
having its Usage Based Insurance (UBI) and Global Live real time
video data streaming technologies fitted to the car for the
duration of the two day rally.
Both systems passed the test with flying colours surviving G
forces of up to 13G and speeds of in excess of 110mph on the
narrow, bumpy stages of the rally.
Cobra fitted the UBI technology to the British Rally
Championship (BRC) leading car to showcase how its data box records
all aspects of a car's journey for use by insurance companies to
track driving behaviour and to be used as a virtual witness in the
event of an accident.
The UBI box's crash alert was set off more than 38 separate
times when decelerations of more than 2G were detected or when the
car's wheels literally took off and landed heavily back on the
tarmac. This included special stage nine where the car clipped a
bank but carried onto the finish.
The UBI system is already in use with the Co-Operative Young
Driver Insurance scheme and this was the first time a commercial
insurance telematics system had been successfully tested in the
gruelling conditions of a car rally.
Cobra's Global Live real time mobile CCTV system was also fitted
inside the rally car to record live streaming pictures of all the
action alongside the car's position, speed and distance travelled
during the two day rally. Two way communications between the Cobra
Secure Operating Centre (SOC) and the rally car also meant that if
Clarke and Cronin had an emergency situation this could be
communicated quickly to the rally team.
"The opportunity to sponsor Marshall and Keith's car during the
rally allowed us to bring the safety and security aspects of our
UBI and Global Live technologies to life in a very arduous
environment," explained Andrew Smith, Cobra UK's Managing
Director.
"Analysing the data and imagery will show insurance companies
and vehicle operators more about our systems - this was the first
time we have been able to demonstrate the G sensor capabilities of
the UBI box without the car being involved in a crash thanks to
Keith's superb driving skills," he added.
Marshall Clarke: "We were pleased to have the Cobra technology
on board and I am sure once we get to see the data and imagery we
will see a new aspect to our performance. Cobra has shown just how
companies can use rallying to test and showcase their new
technologies," he said.
Ends...