ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--(Business Wire / Korea Newswire)--TUM (Technical University of Munich) from Germany, claimed victory at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), at Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday (April 27). As the cars lined up on the grid, with antennae, sensors, AI capabilities, and drive-by-wire systems instead of human drivers, eight teams vied with one another over two days of races and challenges. TUM beat back the competition with its coding and engineering skills in a world-first, four-car race finale, to claim the winner’s share of US$2.25 million prize pot.

TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit - (Photo: AETOSWire) TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit - (Photo: AETOSWire) TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit - (Photo: AETOSWire) TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit - (Photo: AETOSWire) TUM Races to Victory at ASPIRE’s Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League at Yas Marina Circuit - (Photo: AETOSWire) Bringing a science experiment to the racetrack, the inaugural race pushed the boundaries of autonomous technology while adding entertainment value to extreme sports at an unprecedented scale. A2RL drew over 10,000 spectators at the circuit and captured the attention of over 600,000 online viewers in just 12 hours. Organized by ASPIRE, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), A2RL fuses extreme autonomous racing and AI to accelerate the global development of autonomous systems and technologies.

Following months of meticulous preparation spent refining driving AI algorithms in simulations, A2RL’s customized Dallara Super Formula SF23 cars tested the limits of human ingenuity and AI capability. Each team utilized an identical Super Formula race car - the fastest open-wheel race car in the world after Formula One- adapted for autonomous racing by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a sister company of ASPIRE.

Teams faced a complex task in coding. From understanding grip levels, managing tire temperatures, predicting opponent movements, performing successful overtakes, and operating the SF23 right at the limit of grip, the AI needed to perform all the things that racing drivers do intuitively. Additionally, with four autonomous cars racing on the track simultaneously, it marked a world-first attempt that added another layer of challenge.

In a last-lap shootout, the German outfit TUM snatched first place in a daring overtake when front-running Italian team UNIMORE slowed down and came to a stop on the track. The team was congratulated on the racetrack by H.H. Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who presented the Championship Trophy, along with H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Secretary General, ATRC, and Strategic Research & Advanced Technology Affairs Advisor to the UAE President.

Simon Hoffmann, Team Principal, said: “This event has been nothing short of extraordinary, and the finale was our defining moment. We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome; it speaks volumes about our collective engineering prowess, coding expertise, and sheer determination. It's a testament to the incredible power of AI driving the evolution of autonomous mobility into the future!”

Spectators also enjoyed the riveting AI versus Human Race, where the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), pitted its autonomous car against renowned Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. While Kvyat managed to hold his own and edge past his autonomous adversary by 10.38 secs, the spectacular 45-minute race highlighted just how close the autonomous race car performs against a human driver.

H.E. Al Bannai, said: “Through the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, we‘ve sparked a race revolution. Showcasing fully autonomous racecars competing wheel-to-wheel, we’ve redefined the UAE‘s role in innovation and set a bold precedent for global mobility. This event isn’t just a race; it's a transformative moment where technology, imagination, and ambition converge. A2RL serves as a beacon, inspiring the next generation through physical and virtual realities, while shaping a future where the impossible becomes achievable.”

H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Group MD & CEO of ADNOC, as Title Sponsor, said: “Advances in artificial intelligence promise to transform every industry. The A2RL demonstrates the application of AI and as title sponsor, ADNOC is proud to help push the frontiers of science and innovation.”

Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, said: “The launch of A2RL has reshaped the landscape of sports and technology, leaving a lasting impact for years to come. Moving forward, we're broadening our focus to include different vehicle types, while actively attracting top talent worldwide to showcase their mettle.”

On the sidelines of the main event, the A2RL STEM Challenge for high-school and undergrad students between the ages of 14 and 21 drew the participation of 18 local schools, in addition to an international entry from the Boys and Girls Club from Southeastern Michigan, to showcase their knowledge, skills, and innovation by racing 1:8 scale autonomous cars. The winner of the A2RL STEM Challenge was Heriot-Watt University.

A2RL pioneered the integration of mixed and virtual reality elements for the first time in autonomous racing. It gave each of the eight finalist teams a unique avatar persona and incorporated state-of-the-art Virtual Reality (VR) technology ahead of F1 implementation, igniting enthusiastic fan experience both online and offline. Fans at the event in Yas Marina Circuit got to enjoy insightful STEM workshops, intriguing VR challenges, Gran Turismo simulators, doodle cars, and a Raceum AI Museum, among other activities. The inaugural event concluded with a spectacular display of fireworks and drones, illuminating the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.

A2RL 2024 was successfully supported by ADNOC as Title Sponsor, and leading partners, including Du, DMT, AWS, and Mubadala, who played pivotal roles in shaping the event’s trajectory.

Details of the eight participating teams and other updates can be found at A2RL.io.

Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240428292385/en/

Website: https://a2rl.io/ View Korean version of this release Contact Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL)
Senior Director of Communications
Jennifer Dewan
[email protected]
This news is a press release provided by Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL). Korea Newswire follows these editorial guidelines. Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) News ReleasesSubscribeRSS TUM, 야스 마리나 서킷에서 열린 아스파이어의 첫 아부다비 자율주행 레이싱 리그 경주에서 우승 4월 27일 토요일에 야스 마리나 서킷(Yas Marina Circuit)에서 열린 제1회 아부다비 자율주행 레이싱 리그(Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, A2RL) 에서 독일의 뮌헨 공과대학교(Technical University of Munich, TUM)가 우승을 차지했다. 인간 드라이버 대신 안테나와 센서, AI 기능, 드라이브 바이 와이... 4월 30일 14:10 Making History: ASPIRE to Launch Inaugural ‘Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League’ Redefining Future of Extreme Sport on April 27 On Saturday, April 27th, Abu Dhabi will host a groundbreaking event, welcoming 10,000 spectators to witness the inaugural ASPIRE Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL ) at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit. This brand-new autonomous racing competition marks a significant milestone in mot... 4월 25일 14:20 ... More  More News Leisure Sports Transportation Autonomous Driving Awards Overseas Abu Dhabi Autonom... All News Releases 