The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) has set a new milestone in autonomous vehicle racing with its AV-24 racecar. Piloted by an AI driver developed by Team PoliMOVE-MSU (a collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and Michigan State University), the AV-24 achieved the fastest autonomous Hillclimb at the renowned Festival of Speed.
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During the festival, the AV-24 completed a series of three runs up the iconic Goodwood Hill. The record-breaking moment came in the third and final run, where the racecar reached a top speed of 111.2 mph (179 kph) and finished the climb in just 66.37 seconds. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record set by Roborace's "DevBot 2.0" in 2019, which had a finish time of 66.96 seconds and a top speed of 101.16 mph (162.8 kph).
Goodwood's Hillclimb course is infamous for its narrow lanes, hay bales, and limited run-off space, posing a significant challenge for any vehicle, especially an autonomous one. The AV-24's success hinged on the precise control of grip and slippage, achieved through its Bridgestone racing tyres. Moreover, the course's GPS limitations demanded exceptional mapping and localisation capabilities, which were provided by the AV-24's advanced Luminar Iris lidars.
The IAC and PoliMOVE-MSU teams collaborated extensively with Bridgestone’s tyre engineers to prepare for the Hillclimb. This partnership involved visits to Bridgestone’s European Technical Center and Proving Grounds in Rome, where the team had the opportunity to delve into every aspect of tyre production. These insights were crucial in optimising the AV-24's performance, highlighting the critical role of tyre technology in achieving high-speed precision on the track.
This record-breaking achievement follows the announcement last month of the Indy Autonomous Challenge's return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, presented by Bridgestone. The July 2024 event marked another chapter in the festival's history of showcasing cutting-edge automotive technology and innovation. The IAC’s participation, spearheaded by the AV-24, highlighted the growing capabilities and future potential of autonomous racing.
The record-breaking run of the AV-24 at Goodwood not only marks a significant achievement in autonomous racing but also underscores the advancements in AI-driven vehicle technology and tyre performance. As autonomous vehicles continue to evolve, such milestones demonstrate their growing potential in various high-performance applications.
“For three years, the IAC has been pushing the boundaries of high-speed autonomy and setting new records along the way. The Goodwood Hillclimb is a historic backdrop with huge crowds and a global audience that is now aware of the potential of self-driving vehicles to be safely deployed on roads in the future.”
Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the IAC.
“This challenge represents an important milestone for autonomous mobility. This weekend we overcame significant challenges posed by a complicated track and temperamental weather patterns. Thanks to the exceptional work and skills implemented by our engineering team and tyre performance ensured by our Bridgestone racing tyres, we made history by showing the public that safe and high-speed vehicular autonomy is possible even in adverse conditions. Our record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed will inspire confidence in future autonomous driving applications.”
Professor Sergio Savaresi, PoliMOVE-MSU Team Principal.
“Bridgestone is proud to support the PoliMOVE-MSU team in this incredible achievement at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024. We are committed to partnering with the IAC and its inspiring student engineers to continue testing and improving autonomous technologies in record-setting runs like this and beyond. Motorsports are part of Bridgestone’s DNA, always have been and always will be. And what really matters is that we take the learnings from experiences like this and apply them to the sustainable mobility solutions we develop for society and our customers.”
Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer for Bridgestone in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
