Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and Stanford Engineering have achieved a historic milestone in autonomous driving by successfully completing the world’s first autonomous tandem drift using two GR Supra vehicles. This pioneering achievement aims to enhance vehicle safety and responsiveness by simulating conditions where cars must react swiftly to external factors.
Objectives and Collaboration
For nearly seven years, TRI and Stanford have collaborated to make driving safer by focusing on the principles of drifting. Drifting helps simulate conditions where cars must react quickly to other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. Avinash Balachandran, vice president of TRI’s Human Interactive Driving division, emphasized that their research intends to make driving safer, demonstrating their ability to control cars dynamically at extremes. This achievement lays the foundation for advanced automotive safety.
Scientific Insights
Chris Gerdes, a professor of mechanical engineering and co-director of Stanford’s Center for Automotive Research, highlighted that the physics of drifting are similar to what a car experiences on snow or ice. Their findings from this project have led to new techniques for controlling automated vehicles safely in such conditions. In the autonomous tandem drift sequence, two vehicles—a lead car and a chase car—navigate a track in close proximity, operating at the edge of control.
AI Advances in Autonomous Drifting
Using advanced AI techniques, including a neural network tire model, the cars adapt to track conditions in real time. The experiment was conducted at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California, using two modified GR Supras. TRI focused on the lead car, developing stable control mechanisms, while Stanford tackled the chase car, ensuring it could drift without colliding.
Vehicle Modifications and Safety Enhancements
Both cars were modified by GReddy and Toyota Racing Development to meet Formula Drift specifications, including enhancements to suspension, engine, transmission, and safety systems like roll cages and fire suppression. The vehicles are equipped with computers and sensors that allow for real-time control and communication via a dedicated WiFi network.
Technical Execution
To achieve autonomous tandem drifting, the vehicles continually plan and adjust their steering, throttle, and brake commands using a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control technique. This involves solving an optimization problem up to 50 times per second, allowing the vehicles to react to rapidly changing conditions. AI continually trains the neural network using data from previous tests, enhancing the vehicles’ performance with each run.
GR Supra Future Implications
The innovative work done by TRI and Stanford Engineering represents a promising leap towards the future, where cars can operate more safely under extreme conditions. This milestone demonstrates significant progress in the development of autonomous vehicle technology, potentially leading to safer roads and more responsive driving systems.
Conclusion
The successful completion of the world’s first autonomous tandem drift marks a significant advancement in autonomous driving technology. By leveraging AI and collaborative efforts, TRI and Stanford Engineering have paved the way for safer, more responsive vehicles capable of handling extreme conditions.
This achievement not only highlights the potential of autonomous driving but also sets a new standard for vehicle safety and performance in challenging environments.
See also: GROW Summit 2024
