The first ever self-driving car race ended in a crash
For the first time ever, self-driving race cars zoomed through a course in public, with impressive (well, for one of them, anyway) results.
Roborace, the self-driving racing series Formula E announced in 2015, made history with its first public trial race at the Buenos Aires ePrix last weekend.
The two competitors: Devbots 1 and 2, which raced each other in a sprint around the Puerto Madero street circuit.
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Roborace says the winning Devbot 1 hit a top speed of 186 kph (115 mph) during the contest. Formula E's normal manned cars can reach about 225 kph (140 mph), not waaay faster than the self-driving car. That said, it was only driving with one other car on the course — adding more competitors to the field could slow it down a bit.
Devbot 1 wins! Clocking a new new fastest lap at top speed of 186kph #BAePrix 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/qBvT8iqLWZ
— Roborace (@roborace) February 18, 2017
The cars' AI system passed one unexpected test: when a stray dog wandered into its path on the track, Devbot 1 was able to avoid the pup and stay on course.
Who let the dogs out? We've always wanted obstacles in Roborace 😉 #BAePrix pic.twitter.com/jUOyLqnrie
— Roborace (@roborace) February 18, 2017
While the Devbot 1 handled the unexpected challenge of dodging a moving dog, driving through the course at full speed was too much to handle for Devbot 2. The car took a corner too sharply, overcorrected, and smashed up against the wall, ending the first ever totally autonomous public race in a crash.
Papelón de un vehículo autónomo en Puerto Madero: el Roborace sin conductor chocó contra la estatua de Lola Mora
Más https://t.co/fEzjiYCJAM pic.twitter.com/8B3bufHJwX— Autoblog Argentina (@Autoblogcomar) February 18, 2017
The crash is a disappointment for Roborace, which was working to bring the autonomous racing action to Formula E tracks before the 2017 season ends this summer. But it's not all bad news: the AI system will learn from its mistakes and be in a better position than it was before the crash. Look for another demonstration at the next Formula E race in Mexico City on April 1 to see how much closer we are to successful self-driving car races.