The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), presented by Bridgestone, is set to make a thrilling return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed from July 11th to 14th, 2024. This year’s event will spotlight the world’s fastest autonomous racecar, the AV-24, as it tackles the iconic Goodwood Hillclimb.

The AV-24, developed by the IAC, features a Dallara chassis from the Indy NXT series and is equipped with advanced robotics technology. This year, the PoliMOVE-MSU team, comprising members from Politecnico di Milano and Michigan State University, will pilot the AV-24, with additional support from the UNIMORE Racing team from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

Since its launch in 2021, the IAC has been at the forefront of autonomous racing, setting multiple world records, including a groundbreaking autonomous land speed record of 192.2 mph. The competition has seen participation from 10 teams representing 18 universities, competing at prestigious venues like the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Monza’s Temple of Speed. The Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 marks the IAC’s debut in the UK, presenting a unique and challenging new environment for these cutting-edge technologies.

Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, expressed his excitement about this year's event: “We are eager to undertake the unique challenges presented by the Goodwood Hillclimb. Unlike the familiar ovals and F1 road courses, Goodwood’s Hillclimb will challenge the precision of sensor perception, GPS localisation, vehicle dynamics, and path planning in new ways, providing a historical backdrop to showcase the future of high-speed autonomous mobility and the innovative university teams behind it.”

The Festival of Speed’s FOS TECH programme will highlight the latest advancements in automotive technology and alternative fuels, integrating the Future Lab and STEM programmes. The IAC teams will attempt to set a new autonomous world record on the Goodwood hill, demonstrating the potential of AI-driven vehicles to revolutionise vehicle safety and efficiency.

The Duke of Richmond, founder of the Festival of Speed, commented on the festival’s role in showcasing technological innovation: “This year, our new FOS TECH ethos will bring together our future technology and mobility content. Whether exploring Future Lab presented by Randox, Electric Avenue, or enjoying content on the Hill, visitors to the Festival of Speed can experience the work of groundbreaking innovators and their vision for tomorrow’s world.”

Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer for Bridgestone in the EMEA region, emphasised the importance of collaboration in advancing autonomous technologies: “What really matters is working together to collaboratively develop and advance the future of mobility. Bridgestone is proud to partner with the IAC and its young engineers to test and improve autonomous technologies through opportunities like the Goodwood Hillclimb. Motorsports are the ultimate challenge, and the learnings we gather here can be applied to the sustainable solutions we develop for society and our customers.”

The event will also feature educational sessions and interactive experiences, allowing attendees to explore future technologies such as autonomous vehicles, drones, robots, augmented and virtual reality, generative AI, sensor fusion, and the Internet of Things. These sessions, including a Q&A with Durham University's solar-powered electric car team, aim to inspire and educate the next generation of innovators.

Earlier in June, the IAC conducted training sessions on the Goodwood Hillclimb, performing fully autonomous runs and reaching speeds over 177 kph (110 mph). These preparations underscore the rigorous testing and development that precedes the event, promising an exhilarating display of technology and innovation at this year’s Festival of Speed.

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