Yas Marina Circuit hosted the inaugural A2RL race on April 27, 2024. This race was highly anticipated and an event of its own. But there’s more than meets the eye here. The race was a transformative endeavour aimed at reshaping STEM education in the United Arab Emirates and promoting autonomous mobility worldwide. In simple words, AI was given an F1 car!
The Dallara-built single-seater cars, Dallara Super Formula chassis, added the “it” factor to the race. They come with a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-liter engine generating approximately 550 horsepower. This is paired with a six-speed 3MO gearbox. In addition to this, the car boasts pushrod suspension, Brembo carbon brakes, and Yokohama tires for on-the-track performance.
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Speaking about the car, and all the tech it carries, the cockpit has seven Sony IMX728 cameras which provide 360-degree coverage for the AI that actually drives the car. It has other sensors too like four ZF ProWave devices – and three Seyond Falcon Kinetic FK1 Lidar devices, in the form of radars. The computing power is given by the Neousys RGS-8805GC.
Further, even though the hardware remains the same across teams. Only your exceptional coding skills can help win. Teams optimise the car’s performance based on sensor data by leveraging their coding skills, crafting algorithms, and machine learning software.
Dr. Tom McCarthy, Executive Director of ASPIRE, the organisation overseeing A2RL, said “The integration of cutting-edge sensors and AI technology allows our cars to operate at the forefront of autonomous mobility.” “This not only enhances the racing experience but also opens doors to new possibilities in transportation and innovation.”
It is made of sustainable carbon fiber and also has a more eco-conscious build approach. It uses flax, in addition to carbon. There’s also an emergency ‘red button’.
Sarah Al-Mansouri, CEO of A2R, said, “Our goal is to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers, leveraging the excitement of motorsports to drive interest in STEM fields.”
