2017 is set to be the year of driverless technology, with auto giants such as Ford and Audi making huge financial commitments in the field of motoring AI. But while both firms will be hoping to take the 'car of the future' title, that seemingly belongs to this beast of a vehicle from Roborace.
Read more: all the big announcements from Mobile World Congress 2017 Read more: Mobile World Congress 2017: all the big announcements from Barcelona
Called Robocar, the racer was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, by Denis Sverdlov, CEO of Roborace and Charge, and Daniel Simon, the car's designer. Sverdlov emphasised that the development of autonomous racing vehicles was a way to create "an emotional connection to driverless cars and bring humans and robots closer together to define our future."
Robocar was developed in a little under a year but has an array of impressive technological features that take advantage of the Nvidia's Drive PX2 brain - the open AI car computing platform capable of 24 trillion AI operations per second. The car is powered by five LiDAR sensors; 18 ultrasonic sensors; six AI cameras and GNSS positioning, and it reaches speeds of 199mph (320kph). This entire system uses deep learning for 360-degree situational awareness around the car, working to determine precisely where the car is and to create its trajectory.
The futuristic design is no surprise, given that Daniel Simon regularly creates vehicles for Hollywood sci-fi movies. If you've seen Tron Legacy or Oblivion, you've already experienced a small part of Simon's vision for Robocar's autonomy. From the low centre of gravity typical of F1 vehicles to a body made predominantly from carbon fibre, the Robocar is said to be "a racing car with a technological edge."
"We take special pride in revealing a functional machine that stays true to the initial concept shared," Simon admits, "a rarity in automotive design and a testament of our determination. It's a great feeling to set this free."
Sverdlov's Charge – the official electric truck partner of Formula E – is providing key components for the Robocar, including the four 300kW motors, and the 540kW battery. At last year's WIRED 2016 conference, Charge unveiled its next-generation electric truck
Sverdlov said at the time that the truck will be built this year and can be constructed in four hours by just one person meaning 10 men, over two shifts a day, could assemble 10,000 trucks a year.
The previous project from Roborace, 'Devbots', was a stark example of the highs and lows of the automation technology utilised by the Robocar.
In a recent Formula E electric car race in Buenos Aires, one of Roborace's Devbots crashed out of the competition after apparently misjudging a corner while travelling at high speed. While the other Devbot successfully navigated the track at speeds of 116mph, the event emphasised that driverless technology is still a developing field - one that could struggle to compete with the high-speeds of Formula One.
Two Robocars are taking to the track later this year and the automotive industry could be faced with new challenges or possibilities for driverless technology, depending on the outcome. Either go for the brakes or propel further forward into a world driven by artificial intelligence.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
