- TUM secures victory in a last lap overtake, ahead of
CONSTRUCTOR, POLIMOVE and UNIMORE
- H.H. Sheikh Theyab awarded the Championship Trophy, along with
H.E. Faisal Al Bannai
- Inaugural autonomous car race drew over 10,000 spectators at
the circuit and over 600,000 online viewers in 12 hours
- Eight fully autonomous AI-powered cars fought to win US$2.25 Mn
cash prize pot
- Four autonomous cars raced wheel-to-wheel in world-first
attempt
- Former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat wowed crowds with narrow victory
by 10.38 secs in AI vs Human race
- Series to accelerate autonomous adoption and development,
enable future mobility
TUM (Technical University of Munich) from Germany, claimed
victory at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL),
at Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday (April 27). As the cars lined up
on the grid, with antennae, sensors, AI capabilities, and
drive-by-wire systems instead of human drivers, eight teams vied
with one another over two days of races and challenges. TUM beat
back the competition with its coding and engineering skills in a
world-first, four-car race finale, to claim the winner’s share of
US$2.25 million prize pot.
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TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s
Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit
- (Photo: AETOSWire)
Bringing a science experiment to the racetrack, the inaugural
race pushed the boundaries of autonomous technology while adding
entertainment value to extreme sports at an unprecedented scale.
A2RL drew over 10,000 spectators at the circuit and captured the
attention of over 600,000 online viewers in just 12 hours.
Organized by ASPIRE, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced
Technology Research Council (ATRC), A2RL fuses extreme autonomous
racing and AI to accelerate the global development of autonomous
systems and technologies.
Following months of meticulous preparation spent refining
driving AI algorithms in simulations, A2RL’s customized Dallara
Super Formula SF23 cars tested the limits of human ingenuity and AI
capability. Each team utilized an identical Super Formula race car
- the fastest open-wheel race car in the world after Formula One-
adapted for autonomous racing by the Technology Innovation
Institute (TII), a sister company of ASPIRE.
Teams faced a complex task in coding. From understanding grip
levels, managing tire temperatures, predicting opponent movements,
performing successful overtakes, and operating the SF23 right at
the limit of grip, the AI needed to perform all the things that
racing drivers do intuitively. Additionally, with four autonomous
cars racing on the track simultaneously, it marked a world-first
attempt that added another layer of challenge.
In a last-lap shootout, the German outfit TUM snatched first
place in a daring overtake when front-running Italian team UNIMORE
slowed down and came to a stop on the track. The team was
congratulated on the racetrack by H.H. Theyab bin Mohamed bin
Zayed, who presented the Championship Trophy, along with H.E.
Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General, ATRC, and Strategic Research
& Advanced Technology Affairs Advisor to the UAE President.
Simon Hoffmann, Team Principal, said: “This event has
been nothing short of extraordinary, and the finale was our
defining moment. We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome; it
speaks volumes about our collective engineering prowess, coding
expertise, and sheer determination. It's a testament to the
incredible power of AI driving the evolution of autonomous mobility
into the future!"
Spectators also enjoyed the riveting AI versus Human Race, where
the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), pitted its autonomous
car against renowned Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. While Kvyat
managed to hold his own and edge past his autonomous adversary by
10.38 secs, the spectacular 45-minute race highlighted just how
close the autonomous race car performs against a human driver.
H.E. Al Bannai, said: “Through the Abu Dhabi Autonomous
Racing League, we've sparked a race revolution. Showcasing fully
autonomous racecars competing wheel-to-wheel, we've redefined the
UAE's role in innovation and set a bold precedent for global
mobility. This event isn't just a race; it's a transformative
moment where technology, imagination, and ambition converge. A2RL
serves as a beacon, inspiring the next generation through physical
and virtual realities, while shaping a future where the impossible
becomes achievable."
H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced
Technology, and Group MD & CEO of ADNOC, as Title Sponsor,
said: “Advances in artificial intelligence promise to transform
every industry. The A2RL demonstrates the application of AI and as
title sponsor, ADNOC is proud to help push the frontiers of science
and innovation.”
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, said: “The launch of
A2RL has reshaped the landscape of sports and technology, leaving a
lasting impact for years to come. Moving forward, we're broadening
our focus to include different vehicle types, while actively
attracting top talent worldwide to showcase their mettle.”
On the sidelines of the main event, the A2RL STEM Challenge for
high-school and undergrad students between the ages of 14 and 21
drew the participation of 18 local schools, in addition to an
international entry from the Boys and Girls Club from Southeastern
Michigan, to showcase their knowledge, skills, and innovation by
racing 1:8 scale autonomous cars. The winner of the A2RL STEM
Challenge was Heriot-Watt University.
A2RL pioneered the integration of mixed and virtual reality
elements for the first time in autonomous racing. It gave each of
the eight finalist teams a unique avatar persona and incorporated
state-of-the-art Virtual Reality (VR) technology ahead of F1
implementation, igniting enthusiastic fan experience both online
and offline. Fans at the event in Yas Marina Circuit got to enjoy
insightful STEM workshops, intriguing VR challenges, Gran Turismo
simulators, doodle cars, and a Raceum AI Museum, among other
activities. The inaugural event concluded with a spectacular
display of fireworks and drones, illuminating the iconic Yas Marina
Circuit.
A2RL 2024 was successfully supported by ADNOC as Title Sponsor,
and leading partners, including Du, DMT, AWS, and Mubadala, who
played pivotal roles in shaping the event’s trajectory.
Details of the eight participating teams and other updates can
be found at A2RL.io.
Source: AETOSWire
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240428292385/en/
Jennifer Dewan, Senior Director of Communications
Jennifer.dewan@tii.ae