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1 of 1- xoxoxoBruce
- The Future is Unwritten
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Self Driving Cars at Indy
"Never in his wildest dreams would Carl Fisher have envisioned the day the Indianapolis Motor Speedway would see a drone deliver the checkered flag to a robotic dog, who would wave it while driverless cars sped around the Racing Capital of the World at times more than 150 mph."
Four months ago, robot cars could hardly maintain speeds of 30 mph while circling Lucas Oil Raceway – even with a chase car able to take some control of the racecar. Teams struggled to have one car stop in the proper spot in the pits and allow the next car to exit the pits in under 15 minutes.
Saturday’s competition, which was reformatted into a challenge somewhat mirroring Day 1 of Indianapolis 500 qualifying, didn’t meet those original lofty standards, including four notable crashes out of the 11 total runs.
Through pandemic and funding-related attrition, the field of participants was nearly cut in half. What Mitchell said several months ago was a planned field of 19 or 20 teams quickly turned into just 9. Three of those Saturday were made up of four or more universities, teaming up students going to school in different countries, and some in different continents.
Sponsors coughed up $120 million, and the winner got a check for $ 1million.
Freedom is just another word for nothin' left to lose.
- Happy Monkey
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Re: Self Driving Cars at Indy
The problem is simpler if you only need to turn left.
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- tw
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Re: Self Driving Cars at Indy
Happy Monkey wrote:
The problem is simpler if you only need to turn left.
Race tracks are a major source of innovation. Why would anyone need technology that is found / required in today's (innovative) race cars? Ironically much of what is in today's cars was first pioneered decades earlier on race tracks (only ones that raced innovations).
Today we have races that use the latest technologies. And, unfortunately, another that races crap (obsolete technology V-8 engines) with contempt even for human safety (until a famous driver was brutally killed by a trivial crash).. We race horses. Why not race robot cars?
We have humans in cages (UFC) who beat each other into near death. Fans love it. We also have robots that smash each other. What is the difference between entertainment by violence - or by racing? By humans or robots?
The bookies are salivating.
- xoxoxoBruce
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Re: Self Driving Cars at Indy
"The problem is simpler if you only need to turn left."
Yes, but that's never the case, I mean besides some races turn right and some turn both ways..
In this case they were programmed to exit the pits, do so many laps, then find their way back to the proper stall in the pits without screwing anyone else up. Turns out the before and after the fast laps was a big problem.
NASCAR used to be drivers that drew the paying customers. Over time the emphasis switched to brands of cars and the paying seat fillers said ho hum. More recently it's switched back to teams and drivers with a lot of fans not giving a thought to what suppliers are behind them unless they read it on the side of the car..
I suspect robot cars would be another ho hum, who cares if robbie robot has skin in the game.
They would certainly make great strides if tw had a pit pass so he could straighten them out.
Last edited by xoxoxoBruce (10/28/2021 10:53 pm)
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Thread Starter- Flint
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Re: Self Driving Cars at Indy
I thought booze-smuggling is where all the car innovations come from
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- tw
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Re: Self Driving Cars at Indy
I thought booze-smuggling is where all the car innovations come from
And then NASCAR stopped innovating. In extensive discussions with NASCAR mechanics, much of the race is strategy in the pre-race meeting. Where they, for example, limit the downdraft of that spoiler for each car based only negotiations in those meetings.
They are still required to use obsolete technology engines. And, until recently, avoided necessary safety equipment. Therefore did not even innovate there.
NASCAR must even add lead so that cars weight (as I recall) 4,000 pounds. (They even use an obsolete measurement system.)
One innovation that mechanics wanted to implement would put coolant and oil, side by side, in a pipe. Putting both into the engine, at the same temperature, would increase horsepower by single digits. He could not explain why. But NASCAR even forbid that innovation.