Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) will establish a series of high-profile driverless races at the UAE’s Yas Marina Formula 1 track using cars from Japan’s premier open-wheel series, Super Formula, which can travel at over 185mph.
The first event is scheduled for 27 April and has been designed to showcase the remarkable pace of autonomous driving by bringing together the world’s best computer scientists, coders, and developers in competition.
The aim is to reshape the future of mobility by combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence using state-of-the-art sensors and computer technology. At stake is a $2.25 million prize purse, as teams battle to make their cars faster and drive smarter than the opposition.
The A2RL concept comes from the ASPIRE group, the programme management arm of the UAE capital’s Advanced Technology Research Council.
“This is something we’re investing in for the long term,” says ASPIRE’s executive director Tom McCarthy. “There have been attempts to do this, such as Indy Autonomous Challenge and Roborace, but the big challenge is yet to be addressed.
“They’ve made great strides, and we build on their shoulders, but what we want to see is a process that’s going to be here for many years. We want something that sees through the developmental technology and its application on the road.
Source: Autosport