IAC announced its Next Gen Autonomous Vehicle Platform. dSPACE expanded its partnership. Point One Navigation will provide cutting-edge Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) correction.
IAC AV-24
The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), the global innovator in high-speed autonomy, t announced at CES®2024 the launch of its Next Gen Autonomous Vehicle Platform, the IAC AV-24. This cutting-edge platform represents a significant leap forward in autonomous hardware and software technology, propelling the performance of the world’s fastest autonomous racecars to new heights. The IAC AV-24 platform and related simulation tools will accelerate the development of AI Drivers capable of operating vehicles safely at speeds greater than 190 mph.
“The IAC returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway signals Indiana’s continued leadership in performance automation and our commitment to becoming a global destination for bold innovation”
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The IAC engineering team has collaborated with leading autonomous hardware and software providers to develop this state-of-the-art robotics system. Global industry partners, including Bridgestone, Cisco, Continental, dSPACE, Luminar, Marelli, New Eagle, NI, VectorNav, and more, have contributed their innovative hardware and software technology and engineering expertise to support the development of the IAC AV-24. This collaboration has resulted in new and enhanced features, including some world-first innovations, which will usher in a new era of high-speed automation:
- World’s First 360-Degree Long Range LiDAR Vision Using 4 Luminar Iris Sensors.
- Advanced 4D Radar Perception Using Continental ARS540 Sensors.
- High Fidelity “Digital Twin” Simulation of IAC AV-24 Allowing AI Driver Training and Head-to-Head SIM Racing powered by dSPACE SIMPHERA Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation and, since 2022, provision of on-vehicle computer technology with the AUTERA AutoBox.
- IAC Custom Engineered Drive by Wire System Including a First-Of-Its-Kind Independent Actuation for Front and Rear Brakes (Patent Filed).
- World’s First Automated Race Control with Two-Way Wireless Communication and Realtime Software Interface powered by Marelli Smart Antenna and WinTax Systems.
- Custom Hardware in the Loop (HIL) Test Rig From NI.
- Improved GPS/GNSS for Enhanced Localization with Sensors from VectorNav.
- Modular Design of IAC AV-24 Integrated Robotics System Allowing for Competent Interchangeability and Integration into Other High Speed Vehicle Platforms (Patent Filed).
After three years and more than 7,000 miles of high-speed racing, the IAC and its industry partners have evolved the robot inside the IAC AV-24 to become smarter and more capable, providing the world’s fastest autonomous racecar with increased functionality that will enable AI Drivers to reach new levels of performance. Moreover, the robot is now vehicle chassis agnostic, capable of operating in multiple vehicle platforms, further expanding its versatility.
“More than three years ago the IAC took on the challenge of proving that autonomous vehicles could race head-to-head at high speeds,” said Paul Mitchell, president, Indy Autonomous Challenge. “After setting every autonomous racing speed record with the AV-21, our University Teams AI Drivers have found the limits of that system. Our next generation robot, the IAC AV-24, will unleash the full potential of AI Drivers to push limits that have not been attempted by man or machine with the goal of developing technology that can save lives and offer new high-speed mobility options.”
Beyond the track, the IAC is launching a deeper collaboration with commercial partner dSPACE to develop a high-fidelity Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation tool that improves AI Driver training and accelerates the transfer of learning from simulation to the real world. The IAC partnership with dSPACE will leverage its industry leading SIMPHERA software to create a true digital twin of the IAC AV-24 and the historic racetracks where IAC competes. Current IAC University Teams will have access to this simulation tool to develop, test, and validate their AI Driver capabilities in head-to-head racing scenarios before they transition them to real world IAC AV-24 racecars. New teams seeking to join IAC will be able to use the simulation tool to determine their AI Driver performance without the cost of accessing a real IAC AV-24 racecar. The Official IAC SIM Racing Platform, powered by dSPACE, will launch in the spring of 2024 with additional functionality added throughout the year.
“After experiencing the enthusiasm of the teams using our pioneering hardware technologies in the first year of our IAC partnership, we are now taking the next step by providing simulation software to elevate the teams’ AI Drivers to the next level on our virtual racetracks,” said Dr. Carsten Hoff, CEO, dSPACE.
Looking ahead, the IAC announced its current schedule for 2024, which includes a return to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 6, 2024. The IAC aims to establish a hub for performance automation in Indiana and is excited to expand its partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and SportsTech HQ to attract the brightest minds from around the world, building an innovation ecosystem for high-speed automation in the state of Indiana.
“The IAC returning to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway signals Indiana’s continued leadership in performance automation and our commitment to becoming a global destination for bold innovation,” said Salena Scardina, executive vice president of external engagement, IEDC. “Indiana powers a strong workforce and a collaborative ecosystem of industry partners that make our state the best place for future-focused industries like autonomous driving to thrive.”
For 2024 the IAC will again partner with the Milan Monza Motor Show (MIMO) and return to the Monza F1 Circuit in Italy. Building on the success of bringing six autonomous racecars to MIMO in 2023 for a time trial competition, the IAC will return to the legendary Monza F1 Circuit, the oldest racing circuit in Europe, to push the boundaries of head-to-head autonomous racing in 2024.
The IAC has also expanded its partnership with Goodwood, becoming the inaugural partner in a new initiative called FOS Tech at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS). This multiyear collaboration will include IAC participating in Goodwood Festival of Speed held July 11-14, 2024, where select IAC University Teams AI Drivers will attempt a historic autonomous hill climb challenge with the IAC AV-24 racecars. IAC was selected in 2023 to be featured in the Goodwood Future Lab and brought along members from three IAC teams who conducted low speed scans and collected terabytes worth of data to generate a detailed digital map of the Goodwood Hillclimb to train AI Drivers to attempt the historic speed course in 2024.
These three historic venues reflect IAC’s goal to win over hearts and minds around the world regarding the promise of high-speed autonomous mobility and its potential to dramatically improve the safety and efficiency of mobility for all. The Indy Autonomous Challenge continues to push the boundaries of autonomous vehicle technology, fostering innovation and collaboration among industry, universities, and governments around the world. With the launch of the Next Gen Autonomous Vehicle Platform IAC AV-24, its digital twin IAC SIM Racing Platform, powered by dSPACE, and the historic global racing events lined up for 2024, the IAC will continue to race into the future and revolutionize high-speed autonomous mobility.
The IAC will have a significant presence throughout CES 2024, highlighted by the Autonomous Challenge @ CES at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway under the lights on Thursday, January 11, 2024. Please find a full listing of all IAC CES activations below:
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 – Automotive Session
- 3-3:40 PM – LVCC, Grand Lobby, CTA Center Stage
Thursday, January 11, 2024 – IEDC Eureka Park Session
- 9:30-10 AM – Venetian, Eureka Park, Startup Stage
Thursday, January 11, 2024 – Autonomous Challenge @ CES 2024 (Must be a registered CES attendee)
No lights? No problem! The Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES 2024 pushing the limits of autonomous mobility “Racing After Dark” at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- 3:30-6 PM – Las Vegas Motor Speedway (rideshare drop off or parking options are available).
- 3:30 PM Race event starts.
- 4:30 PM Race event ends.
- 4:45 PM Next Generation Racecar Demonstration Laps.
- 5:30 PM “Racing After Dark” no track lights, LED-enhanced cars.
January 9-12, 2024 – IAC Exhibit at CES 2024
Beyond the thrilling competition on the track, the IAC will partner with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to host a major exhibition in the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), West Hall #5901, featuring the return of the Innovation Paddock.
dSPACE Expands Partnership
dSPACE, one of the world’s leading providers of simulation and validation solutions, is expanding its partnership with the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and will support its university racing teams not only with hardware, but also with simulation software in the future. The world’s fastest self-driving racecars have already been competing with on-vehicle computers from dSPACE at legendary racetracks around the world for more than a year. In the future, the university teams will also be able to use software-in-the-loop (SIL) solutions from dSPACE and receive training and engineering support. With the SIL simulations, the race teams will be able to train their AI Drivers to be more reliable, safer, and faster in a virtual environment.
As the official software-in-the-loop technology sponsor of the IAC, dSPACE provides its SIMPHERA solutions. SIMPHERA is a powerful framework that incorporates simulation models, test automation, test analysis, and a simulation platform and can integrate further components such as HIL simulators. The virtual test environments for desktop and cloud use offer teams full access to all components of the individually configurable framework. For example, components of the open simulation models can be replaced with your own models. In the cloud, the teams can simply upload their self-developed control software – AI-Driver – to the cloud and immediately carry out their first racing dynamics tests. In the future, the partnership will also focus on providing solutions for advanced sensor simulation.
dSPACE is already the exclusive on-vehicle computer technology sponsor of the IAC. For the past year, every IAC racecar has been driving with the dSPACE AUTERA AutoBox. The system has proven itself as a robust, reliable, and powerful central computer. It reads data from lidar and radar sensors and cameras as well as from buses and networks in the vehicle, processes it, and provides real time controls and commands for the full autonomous racecars with speeds up to 190 mph.
Point One NAV Provides RTK
Point One Navigation, a leading provider of high-precision location solutions, announced that it has been selected by the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) to provide cutting-edge Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections technology for the world’s fastest autonomous racing cars at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Point One’s RTK network delivers centimeter-accurate location services that make autonomous racing at high speeds possible. IAC race cars often exceed 180 mph and require precise location data for safe high-performance racing. The IAC chose Point One Navigation based on the company’s proven record in delivering precise location data to many companies through its RTK technology.
“We’re proud to be selected by the Indy Autonomous Challenge to provide our RTK positioning technology for ALL of the autonomous racing cars at the CES 2024 IAC Racing event,” said Aaron Nathan, CEO of Point One Navigation. “These are the fastest autonomous racing cars in the world and they highlight the capabilities of our RTK solution and demonstrate our commitment to advancing innovation in the autonomous vehicle industry.”
Point One Navigation’s innovative RTK technology is now available for a wide range of autonomous applications. This includes drones, robots, delivery robots, construction and farm equipment, and autonomous cars and trucks. The same high-precision technology that powers the fastest autonomous racing cars is now available to industries seeking reliable and high-precision navigation solutions throughout North America and most of Europe.
Team members participating in the Indy Autonomous Challenge have praised Point One Navigation’s technology. Gary Passon, AIracingTech founder and Autonomous Motorsports Principal at UC Berkeley shared, “As with any competition, we want to win. Point One’s RTK technology is not only incredibly accurate but also remarkably easy to integrate and use. It has been an essential component in optimizing our vehicle’s performance and has increased our ability to compete at such high speeds.”
Point One Navigation is excited to provide its RTK positioning technology to the next generation of engineering students striving to build autonomous machines and vehicles. “Students are the purest kind of innovators,” said Nathan. “They’re pushing the envelope of what’s possible quicker than any business, even startups and cutting-edge companies. Many of our current team members participated in similar engineering challenges while in school. That experience has been decisive in driving our own technology forward.”
Point One Navigation continues to lead the way in providing cutting-edge RTK solutions for autonomous vehicles, with the Indy Autonomous Challenge at CES 2024 serving as a testament to the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of precision navigation technology.