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The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), in partnership with Politecnico di Milano, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by setting a new world speed record for autonomous vehicles. Utilizing a modified Maserati MC20 Coupe, the team reached an impressive speed of 197.7 mph (318 km/h) at the Kennedy Space Center’s Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility. This record-breaking event, part of the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida, underscores significant advancements in autonomous driving technology and its potential applications beyond racing, including everyday streetcars. It highlights a fusion of motorsport tradition and cutting-edge innovation.
Key Highlights
- Previous Record: Surpassed the prior mark of 192.8 mph, set in 2022 by IAC and PoliMOVE.
- Vehicle: Maserati MC20 Coupe, specially adapted for autonomous operation.
- AI Driver: Engineered by Politecnico di Milano’s AIDA team.
- Test Conditions: Executed with no human driver present.
- Initiative: Aligned with MOST – National Center for Sustainable Mobility.
- Technology Focus: Enhancing safety and reliability in autonomous systems.
- Broader Goal: Applying high-speed racing insights to highway mobility.
Since its launch in 2019, the Indy Autonomous Challenge has been a pioneer in autonomous racing technology. By fostering competitions among university teams to develop AI drivers for fully autonomous racecars, the IAC has continually expanded the limits of this field. The recent feat with the Maserati MC20 Coupe exemplifies the strides made, showcasing how such technology can evolve.
The collaboration with Politecnico di Milano, a top-tier Italian technical university, has been pivotal. The AIDA team from Politecnico crafted the AI software that propelled the Maserati to its record speed, emphasizing the value of academic-industry partnerships in driving technological progress.
The involvement of Maserati and the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida adds historical and prestigious dimensions to this achievement. Known as one of the world’s most iconic races, the 1000 Miglia bridges motorsport heritage with future mobility innovations. This event illustrates how tradition and technology can harmonize to push boundaries.
Conducted at the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing Facility—a site renowned for NASA Space Shuttle landings—the test highlights the event’s groundbreaking nature. As the IAC explores new horizons in autonomous mobility, the implications extend to safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation solutions.
Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV, stated: “These world speed records are much more than just a showcase of future technology; we are pushing AI-driver software and robotics hardware to the absolute edge. Doing so with a streetcar is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.”
Prof. Sergio Matteo Savaresi, Scientific Director at Politecnico di Milano, added: “The goal of high-speed tests is to evaluate the behavior of robo-drivers in extreme conditions. These AI systems have been tested in production vehicles at legal road speeds in the Indy Autonomous Challenge races since 2021. The AIDA team used this test to push the boundaries of autonomous driving, improving safety and reliability. Conducted in controlled environments without a human driver, the test assesses the AI’s stability, robustness, and reaction time, ultimately enhancing safety for low-speed urban mobility situations.”
This milestone not only sets a new benchmark in autonomous racing but also lays the groundwork for future advancements in vehicle safety and performance, both on the track and on public roads.
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