Yas Marina Circuit Driverless race with Super Formula cars[F1-Gate.com]

Yas Marina Circuit, the venue for the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has announced that it will hold a driverless race using modified Super Formula cars as the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League.

The race, scheduled for April 28, 2024, will see 10 teams from international universities and research groups compete for a prize pool of up to $2.25 million in an improved version of Super Formula SF23 piloted by artificial intelligence. compete for it.

Autonomous racing has had limited success so far because early pioneers were limited to running a maximum of two cars at a time.

However, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) hopes to have “several” driverless cars competing at the same time, although the exact numbers and methodology have yet to be finalized due to safety considerations. .

The A2RL, supported by Dallara and Super Formula organizer Japan Race Promotion, is pushing the boundaries of technology with a modified SF23 chassis and a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine.

The car is equipped with a camera that provides a 360-degree view, GPS for navigation, and radar and LiDAR sensors that detect obstacles and other cars and estimate distance.

The computer, which is usually fixed to the driver’s seat, uses the latest AI technology to operate the machine and automatically processes data using machine learning, allowing the AI ​​to update lap times each time the tour is completed. .

Each team will be provided with the same machine and invited to modify the league’s underlying software algorithms to get the best performance possible.

“We are delighted to be hosting an autonomous racing event in Abu Dhabi and introducing it to the world through A2RL,” said Dr. Tom McCarthy, executive director of ASPIRE, the group organizing the race.

“This initiative not only redefines the future of mobility, but also inspires a new generation to rethink and innovate for a brighter future in thrilling international races.”

“By equipping our competitive teams with newly adapted Dallara SF23 cars with autonomy stacks, we are ensuring a level playing field.The focus now is not on driver skill; it is , about the technology, programming, and machine learning algorithms that allow these vehicles to move at breakneck speeds across complex racetracks.”

A2RL is expected to serve not only for sporting purposes, but also as a platform for further research and development of autonomous driving technology.

“By bringing scientists, developers and coding experts from around the world together in extreme sports, we are actively stress-testing on the racetrack and improving safety on the road.” Faisal Al Bannai, Executive Director of UAE Advanced Technology Research Council, parent company of ASPIRE, added:

“At the intersection of science, sport and technology, autonomy is poised to revolutionize the future of transportation.The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League is a global hub for the development of autonomous driving solutions, with Abu Dhabi being an international research and development (R&D) hub. This is a testament to our growing reputation as the best testbed for testing demonstrations.”

This month, Daniil Kvyat and A2RL conducted a human shakedown of SF23 at the Dubai Autodrome, marking what the league calls “an important step towards full autonomy on the horizon” and “what is possible for humans.” “We have set a benchmark.”

Details of the race format are yet to be determined, but the first edition in spring 2024 is expected to consist of a sprint race, time trial and feature race, with the league aiming to have all 10 teams at the Yas Marina Circuit at the same time.

Our team, alongside the incredible Daniel Kvyat, a professional racing car driver, conducted the SF23’s inaugural shakedown to assess its mechanical performance—a crucial step toward its imminent full autonomy! Don’t miss the video showcasing our successful first shakedown. pic.twitter.com/FObijWivZd

— Autonomous Racing League (@A2RLeague) November 22, 2023

Category: F1 / super formula / F1 Abu Dhabi GP