Partnership with the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) Expanded: dSPACE Supports University Autonomous Racing Teams as Exclusive Software-in-the-Loop Technology Sponsor

dSPACE, one of the world’s leading providers of simulation and validation solutions, is expanding its partnership with the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and will support its university racing teams not only with hardware, but also with simulation software in the future. The world’s fastest self-driving racecars have already been competing with on-vehicle computers from dSPACE at legendary racetracks around the world for more than a year. In the future, the university teams will also be able to use software-in-the-loop (SIL) solutions from dSPACE and receive training and engineering support. With the SIL simulations, the race teams will be able to train their AI Drivers to be more reliable, safer, and faster in a virtual environment.

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dSPACE is expanding its partnership with the IAC and will support university racing teams not only with hardware, but also with simulation software. (Photo: Business Wire)

As the official software-in-the-loop technology sponsor of the IAC, dSPACE provides its SIMPHERA solutions. SIMPHERA is a powerful framework that incorporates simulation models, test automation, test analysis, and a simulation platform and can integrate further components such as HIL simulators. The virtual test environments for desktop and cloud use offer teams full access to all components of the individually configurable framework. For example, components of the open simulation models can be replaced with your own models. In the cloud, the teams can simply upload their self-developed control software - AI-Driver - to the cloud and immediately carry out their first racing dynamics tests. In the future, the partnership will also focus on providing solutions for advanced sensor simulation.

dSPACE is already the exclusive on-vehicle computer technology sponsor of the IAC. For the past year, every IAC racecar has been driving with the dSPACE AUTERA AutoBox. The system has proven itself as a robust, reliable, and powerful central computer. It reads data from lidar and radar sensors and cameras as well as from buses and networks in the vehicle, processes it, and provides real time controls and commands for the full autonomous racecars with speeds up to 190 mph.

“In the first year of our partnership with the IAC, we were able to experience the competence and enthusiasm with which the teams use the pioneering technologies to further develop the racecars. Now that the AUTERA AutoBox has established itself as the brain of the IAC racecar, we are taking the next step and providing the top university engineers with a virtual racetrack. With the software-in-the-loop solutions, we equip IAC teams with powerful tools that enable them to gain insights early on and that make the difference in the end to win the IAC races,” explained Dr. Carsten Hoff, CEO of dSPACE.

“dSPACE has been a cornerstone partner for the IAC, playing a pivotal role in advancing our world’s fastest autonomous racecar. Increasing our collaboration, dSPACE will provide a customized version of its SIMPHERA SIL product, a best-in-class high-fidelity simulation tool that will offer our university teams a true digital twin of the next-gen IAC racecars and track environments. This partnership will enable true sim-to-real transfer learning and unlock the full potential of our teams’ AI Drivers to reach the pinnacle of safe high-speed automation,” said Paul Mitchell, President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge.

The next IAC competition is the Autonomous Challenge @ CES on January 11, 2024, on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during CES 2024, the world’s most influential technology event. dSPACE has its own booth (#4300) at CES and will also be represented at the IAC booth (#5901).

About dSPACE

dSPACE is a leading provider of simulation and validation solutions worldwide for developing networked, autonomous, and electrically powered vehicles. The company's range of end-to-end solutions are used particularly by automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to test the software and hardware components in their new vehicles long before a new model is allowed on the road. Not only is dSPACE a sought-after partner in vehicle development, engineers also rely on our know-how at dSPACE when it comes to aerospace and industrial automation. Our portfolio ranges from end-to-end solutions for simulation and validation to engineering and consulting services as well as training and support. With more than 2,500 employees worldwide, dSPACE is headquartered in Paderborn, Germany; has three project centers in Germany; and serves customers through its regional companies in the USA, the UK, France, Japan, China, Croatia, Korea and India.

About the IAC

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) organizes racing competitions among university affiliated teams representing 17 universities from around the world to program fully autonomous racecars and compete in a series of history-making events at iconic tracks. Based in Indiana, the IAC is working to establish a hub for performance automation in the state and is harnessing the power of innovative competitions to attract the best and the brightest minds from around the globe to further state-of-the-art technology in safety and performance of automated vehicles. The IAC started as a $1 million prize competition with 31 university teams signing up to compete more than three years ago, representing top engineering and technology programs from 15 U.S. states and 11 countries. Follow the IAC @IndyAChallenge on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, & YouTube.

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