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106 PS | Autonomous racing M otorsport has repeatedly been a source of technological innovation for the world of commercial mobility (writes Rory Jackson). Competing for prize money and the attention of customers and investors is a powerful motivator for engineers to innovate ways of boosting power and speed while tempering weight and NVH, across IC engine as well as electric powertrains. It bodes well for unmanned systems then that there are now numerous autonomous racing competitions. While the age of F1-style driverless races with 20 or more cars racing wheel-to-wheel remains a long way off, the motivations and benefits for innovation are the same as any IC engine or electric racing series. Some of these competitions may be familiar. In UST 28 (October/November 2019) for instance we discussed the Formula Student’s driverless competitions and featured AMZ Driverless’ gotthard racing vehicle. This downforce-type car ran on a battery-electric drivetrain that powered a Velodyne VLP-16, primarily for object detection, as well as a trio of Basler 1600-pixel global shutter cameras for colour detection. Data from these, along with velocity information from wheel speed sensors, a ground speed sensor and a spatial dual GNSS-INS from Advanced Navigation, were fused together through the fastSLAM 2.0 algorithm to enable the gotthard to localise itself within the course. Formula Student’s AI competitions continue in many locations worldwide, with companies such as Siemens and Nvidia being invested in the results for the future of autonomous systems. Similar companies have also submitted teams and sponsorships to the Self Racing Cars event. While not strictly a race, this is a showcase of innovations where engineers get to demonstrate and share how they are pushing the capabilities of self-driving commercial vehicles. Perhaps the most famous of all the current autonomous racing contests is the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC). First held in October 2021 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, nine teams from 21 universities took part, all using a chassis known as the AV-21. This is built by Dallara and is based on the Indy Lights downforce chassis, with a sensor and computer suite integrated by the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. “While the Technische Universitat Munchen’s Autonomous Motorsport team won the IAC 2021 event and its $1 million grand prize, a follow-up competition was held soon after at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, called the Autonomous Challenge @ CES. This was the world’s first head-to-head (one-to-one passing) autonomous race, and PoliMove – a team of engineers from the Politecnico di Milano in Italy and the University of Alabama – won its $150,000 purse. Such competitions are not limited to the track either. For example, readers of this issue’s cover story will recall the annual UK-based Microtransat Challenge, aimed at racing USVs across the Atlantic, which has been held regularly since 2010. The SailBot competition, held in the US since 2006, is a similar contest. Teams come from across Europe and the Americas to pit their creations against a series of challenges. In principle, their USVs must be computer-controlled, although RC can be used in exchange for a points penalty. Like many sporting and competitive events, SailBot was not held in 2020 or 2021 owing to the pandemic, but it is confirmed as returning this year. Much like its counterparts taking place on land, it no doubt bears watching for what its teams could bring to the table in terms of advances in USV intelligence and safety. Now, here’s a thing “ ” February/March 2022 | Unmanned Systems Technology Perhaps the most famous contest is the Indy Autonomous Challenge, first held in 2021, in which the winning team picked up the competition’s $1 million prize