Renault Sport Technologies has teamed up with a Washington-based startup named Sensoria to develop the next evolution of the R.S. Monitor smartphone application. The app (available for iOS and Android) is compatible with track-focused Renault models such as the Clio R.S. and the Mégane R.S. (pictured), but all enthusiasts regardless of what they drive and where they live can use it.
At its core, Renault’s R.S. Monitor application is a performance tracking system that allows racers to record lap times, record performance statistics such as how long it takes their car to reach 60 mph from a stop, track and map G-forces, as well as record videos. On paper, the R.S. Monitor is similar to the Performance Data Recorder that is offered on the Chevrolet Corvette and the Cadillac ATS-V.
The next generation of the app gains the ability to track a pilot’s heart rate in real time thanks to a Sensoria-developed connected t-shirt that features an integrated heart rate monitoring module. The data recorded by the module is automatically transferred to the R.S. Monitor via Bluetooth and it is mapped on a G-G diagram, which helps the pilot improve both performance and consistency on the track.
Right now the next generation of the R.S. Monitor is only compatible with Apple devices that run iOS 8 or newer, though we expect an Android version of it will be launched before the end of the year. Sensoria’s heart rate-sensing t-shirt is available for purchase on the company’s website.
If hot laps aren’t your thing, the heart rate-sensing t-shirt is also compatible with the Sensoria Fitness application, which helps runners train by detecting vital information such as how their feet land on the ground, and by giving them feedback on how they can improve their performance. The shirt has over eight months of battery life, and it can be machine-washed just like a regular t-shirt.