Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s largest scientific-technological university, have joined forces with Maserati and 1000 Miglia Experience Florida to carry out an ambitious high-tech initiative during the renowned competition’s stop in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The activity is part of MOST – Italy’s National Center for Sustainable Mobility, which drives research, innovation, and infrastructure development to create scalable solutions for eco-friendly transportation, says Business Wire.
The Indy Autonomous Challenge has returned to the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) at the Kennedy Space Center to set a new autonomous driving world record. The LLF facility is one of the world’s longest runways at 15,000 feet (2.8 miles) and the historic location for NASA Space Shuttle landings. Once primarily used for government operations, the LLF has evolved into a vibrant hub for aerospace innovation, research, manufacturing, and testing.
Development of the AI driver software was completed by the PoliMOVE-MSU team – part of the performance division of AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous of Politecnico di Milano). The Indy Autonomous Challenge Maserati MC20 Coupé, guided by artificial intelligence from Politecnico di Milano and modified to run autonomously, reached 197.7 mph (318 km/h) autonomously and with no human driver on board. This surpasses the previously held absolute record for an autonomous car of 192.8 mph, set by Indy Autonomous Challenge and PoliMOVE at the same location in April 2022 with an IAC AV-21 racecar. The achievement represents a huge leap forward in high-speed autonomous driving development and showcases how the learnings of high-speed autonomous racing can transfer to streetcars.
The Maserati MC20 Coupe of the Indy Autonomous Challenge and driven by the robo-driver from the Politecnico di Milano, previously held the record for the fastest autonomous production car, reaching 285 km/h (177 mph) at the Piacenza Military Airport track in November of 2024. This vehicle has once again raised the bar, demonstrating extraordinary innovation and technology from Italy.
“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”,said Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV.
Pic: Courtesy of AI-Driver of Politecnico di Milano
