<p><em>Together with <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/ansys" id="isPasted" target="_blank">Ansys</a>, a developer of simulation software, we have created a series of content about the technologies that make sustainable transportation possible. This article provides a summary of the series with links to read more.&nbsp;</em></p><h2>Introduction</h2><p dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Without simulation, we would not be at the current status of eclectic and autonomous cars. Simulation is a key part of the major technologies that can help to lower the environmental footprint of transport.&nbsp;Among these are:</p><ul><li dir="ltr">Battery technology</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/real-time-generative-design-for-transportation-lightweighting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3D Printing to reduce weight and carbon footprint of electric vehicles</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/digital-twins-bridge-the-gap-between-product-development-and-product-operations" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Digital Twins</a></li></ul><p dir="ltr">Further, it explores ways to increase the efficiency of internal combustion engineer vehicles until they phase out through the use of synthetic fuels and camless engine technology.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">Simulation plays a critical role in each of these steps towards decarbonization. Using simulations has been shown to reduce the development time required to bring a car to market by 50%. It is also linked to a 12% improvement in energy efficiency and power density, boosting the environmental impact of electric vehicles. For example, simulation is a useful tool for developing the electric systems and power train in electric vehicles. It can help increase the power density and lifetime of power electronics while optimizing the electrochemistry of the battery and ensuring the safety of the system.&nbsp;</p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="false" style="width: 766px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1635255213240-lightyear-one-solar-simulation-social.webp" style="width: 7888px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true">Lightyear One was developed using multiphysics simulation software.</span></p></span></span></div><h3 dir="ltr">Competition drives innovation</h3><p dir="ltr">The Indy Autonomous Challenge was a year-long event that saw university teams compete against each other to develop the best autonomous driving system. The challenge finished with a high-speed race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) with teams vying for 1 million dollars in prize money. The challenger provided a really important method for emerging engineers to develop technology outside of the corporate structure, experiment, share knowledge and ultimately make a significant contribution to the future of autonomous vehicles.&nbsp;</p><p>The winner of the historic race was TUM <a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/technical-university-of-munich" target="_blank">Autonomous Motorsport from the Technische Universität München</a> (TUM). T<a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/rules-body" target="_blank">he IAC&nbsp;</a>race required each team to compete in a fastest lap competition that included an obstacle avoidance component. The winning team recorded the fastest 2-lap average speed of 135.944 on the famed IMS Oval.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YBpdUr1t7_o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></p><p>The primary goal of the IAC was to advance technology that can speed the commercialization of fully autonomous vehicles and deployments of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These enhancements will lead to increased safety and performance in motorsports as well as all modes of commercial transportation.&nbsp;</p><p>“The IAC is a test bed for developing autonomous technology and the brain power that goes into it,” says Tarun Tejpal, Ansys’ industry marketing director for transportation. “An autonomous race car is basically a supercomputer on wheels. The teams have to optimize that supercomputer and the only way you can do that is with Ansys simulation technology.” He notes that the hardware and software have been coming together over the last decade to bring autonomous driving closer to reality. “Now it’s just a matter of human ingenuity,” he says. “By putting these student teams in a competitive situation, they will exponentially innovate the autonomous technology that will eventually be used in commercial automobiles.”</p><p>Essential for the teams to compete in the final event was participatio<a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-indy-autonomous-challenge-simulation-race" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">n in the Simulation Race</a>. Here teams had to perform certain minimum requirements such as single la performance and the ability to overtake without crashing. The final was a 10-lap race won by <a href="https://pennsylvanianewstoday.com/polimove-wins-ansys-indy-autonomous-challenge-simulation-race-state/180619/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PoliMove</a>, who took home $100,000.&nbsp;</p><h2>Cities and systems simulated to herald new era of automotive</h2><p>As the way transportation changes so does the functionality and performance of cities and public spaces. By harnessing the Internet of Things (IoT) with the rapid connectivity of 5G (and beyond), cities are evolving to become smarter, cleaner, more efficient, and more habitable not just for humans but for future transportation too. Ensuring that emerging technologies such as alternative fuel cars work within the current envelope and limit of our cities presents immense challenges to architects, engineers, urban planners, and automakers.</p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="false" style="width: 766px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1635255353357-Wind-in-city-a%C3%A9raulics-study-cfd-simulation.jpg" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true">Virtual 3D city models compose particularly an important concept in 3D geoinformation systems. They can be used in urban planning, defining of traffic routes, disaster management, etc. Image credit: Ansys</span></p></span></span></div><p dir="ltr">These challenges can be met by using simulation software in the design and testing of various city features, from the number and placement of EV charging stations to the placement of 5G towers for maximum effect and aesthetic.</p><p dir="ltr">Simulating, testing, and iterating smart city solutions before implementation is key to a ‘smarter’ smart city future. Not only is simulation essential in a design and planning phase it can also be used through technologies such as digital twins to monitor and maintain systems in a &nbsp;predictive manner.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">Summary</h2><p dir="ltr">Reducing emissions and decarbonization will only be achieved through innovation. This innovation will come largely from the ability to test and design rapidly with exponential pace. Discover more about the role of simulation in cutting-edge technology at the Ansys profile.&nbsp;</p><h2 id="isPasted"><em>About the sponsor: Ansys</em></h2><p><em>Ansys provides engineering simulation software used to predict how product designs will behave in real-world environments. Founded in 1970, Ansys employs more than 4,400 professionals, many of whom are expert M.S. and Ph.D.-level engineers in finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, electronics, semiconductors, embedded software, and design optimization.</em><em><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjM1MjU0MzQyNjc1LUFuc3lzIGJhbm5lciBpbWFnZS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></em><br></p>

Our recent series explored how simulation is enabling engineers to innovate at an exponential pace. 

The role of simulation in decarbonizing transportation

<p><em id="isPasted">Together with Ansys, a developer of simulation software, we are creating a series of content about the technologies that drive innovation. Read the foundation article&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/decarbonization-sustainability-and-innovations-in-transportation-and-mobility" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em id="isPasted">here</em></a><em id="isPasted">&nbsp;and our overview of the Indy Autonomous Challenge&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-indy-autonomous-challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em id="isPasted">here</em></a><em id="isPasted">.</em></p><p dir="ltr" id="isPasted">The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) will host the very first <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-indy-autonomous-challenge" target="_blank">Indy Autonomous Challenge</a> (IAC) on October 23. Ten teams from 21 international universities will compete in a purely autonomous race for 1 million dollars in prize money. Not only will this be an exciting test of autonomous technology at high speeds, but it will also showcase how university-level engineers have developed the technology to date and provide valuable insights into the future of autonomous vehicles.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">This article will describe the retrofitted Dallara race car, touch on the university teams that made it to race day, and explain why this event is a significant engineering milestone in the journey to full autonomy.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr"><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 766px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMzNjIyMzA4MjgzLUlBQytBVi0yMStJbmR5KzUwMCszLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">The retrofitted Dallara race car, ready for the IAC event.&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true">&nbsp;</span>A long journey for dedicated engineers</h2><p>Leading up to this main race, there have been qualifying submissions and technology demonstrations to ensure teams were ready. Each team was required to submit a technical white paper containing preliminary research, perform a simplified maneuver demonstration, and participate in a series of hackathons. Further teams have been mentored and supported by IAC sponsors to help accelerate the team’s autonomous software development.&nbsp;</p><p>In a recent interview, <a href="https://www.auvsi.org/panel-reflects-prep-october%E2%80%99s-indy-autonomous-challenge" target="_blank">Sandeep Sovani</a>, an autonomous vehicle expert with over two decades of experience working for simulation software company Ansys, commented on the massive progress that the teams have made since the early hackathons, which saw many virtual crashes to the final hackathon sessions:</p><p>“They were driving in the virtual driving range like pros toward the end (of the simulation phase). And they got to get a lot of the flaws out of their software through simulation.”</p><h2>Simulated racing test algorithms&nbsp;</h2><p>The Indy Autonomous <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-indy-autonomous-challenge-simulation-race" target="_blank">Simulation Race</a>, took place in June. &nbsp;Twenty teams first demonsared their readiness by completing a single lap using the Ansys VRXPERIENCE Driving Simulator platform. This was followed by time Trials which determined the starting grid for two heat races. The winners of these then raced in a tense final. Italian-based <a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/politecnico-di-milano" target="_blank">PoliMOVE</a>, took home the first prize of $100,000. PoliMOVE is primarily made up of PhD students, with some Master’s students also in the mix. The team is based at Politechnico di Milano in Milan, Italy. The team comfortably took the simulation race win, which &nbsp;team leader <a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/blog/polimove-wins-ansys-indy-autonomous-challenge-simulation-race" target="_blank">Sergio Matteo Savaresi</a> describes, is due to the team’s wide range of engineering knowledge:</p><p dir="ltr">“We believe that our biggest strength is our breadth of competencies: vehicle-dynamics control, signal processing, machine learning, optimization, software design, advanced perception, sensor fusion, etc.,” says Savaresi.&nbsp;</p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="false" style="width: 756px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p dir="ltr"><img data-fr-image-pasted="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gikZNeXUmkGeXarzZA_QbB1KkZ51mCjC3ITE9Z2y7GRtNKjTzRWrMFI4Hyku5SYm7iWI6vMsEJZrM_IZaF98D85C6ouK_MUa-TFCf9dRiI1p1rRFNDdMaFaSEwK5PfytS3dLVi7V=s0" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 788px;"><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true">Students preparing the vehicles ahead of track testing.&nbsp;</span></p></span></span></div><h2>Developing the IAC vehicle</h2><p dir="ltr">Clemson University and the International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) have been involved with the IAC from the very beginning being, charged with converting the Dallara IL-15 to its autonomous counterpart, the AV-21. The university’s Deep Orange program which designs, builds, and develops concept cars was critical in the conversion. The program is made up of mainly master’s level students and is led by automotive engineering professor <a href="https://www.auvsi.org/panel-reflects-prep-october%E2%80%99s-indy-autonomous-challenge" target="_blank">Chris Paredis</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>The conversion task requires changes to the car’s hardware, computing, and control systems and must ensure maximum safety under high-speed conditions. Critical for Deep Orange was to think how each change to the car could also contribute to engineering knowledge of autonomous technology for the real world. The changes made to the Dallara could be integrated later for consumer vehicles to have additional driver safety and crash-prevention benefits.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">The Autonomous AV-21 Chassis</h2><p dir="ltr">The starting point for the AV-21 was the Dallara Indy Lights chassis, otherwise known as the IL-15. It’s a single-seater race car, which is used for the feeder series to Indycar. The chassis is carbon fiber and houses a 2L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that outputs 450 hp. The suspension is double wishbone, with Multimatic DSSV dampers, and the race car has an adjustable front and rear wing.&nbsp;</p><p>Sensors and cameras were installed to provide the inputs required for the autonomous software, in the absence of a human driver. Similarly, control mechanisms to replace the driver were added to the cockpit.</p><p><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z4GlpWYbi0U?&amp;ab_channel=IndyAutonomousChallenge&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 767px; height: 414px;"></iframe></span><br></p><p>Notable changes to the IL-15 were:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Lidar, radar, and optical cameras</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">High-precision GPS</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Additional batteries to power increased wiring and sensors</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Internal cooling for the batteries and electronic components</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Drive-by-wire systems for throttle, brake, steering, shifting, clutch, initial launch, etc.</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Modifications to the drivetrain to accommodate the systems above</p></li></ul><p>The knock-on effect of these added systems to make the race car autonomous includes additional total weight and modified weight distribution. While much of the additional equipment was installed in the cockpit region, where the driver’s weight would be situated, there will be slight differences that were addressed.&nbsp;</p><p>In addition, removing the driver from the cockpit and filling it with wiring and control boxes will change the aerodynamics of the overall vehicle. The necessary cameras and sensors will also disrupt the airflow around the vehicle. To compensate, the front and rear wing flaps can be adjusted.</p><h2 dir="ltr">Ten teams line up on race day</h2><p>Ten teams have made it through the grueling preparation rounds to qualify to compete at the IAC final event, vying for the 1 million dollar prize.&nbsp;</p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 766px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMzNjg5Njg4OTMzLW11c3RhZmEuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">Mustafa Alp of the PoliMOVE Autonomous Racing Team. Image credit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/polimove-autonomous-racing-team/?originalSubdomain=it" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">poliMOVE.</a></span></span></span></div><p class="fr-img-space-wrap">The teams that will compete in the final race on October 23rd are as follows:</p><ol><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.hawaiiavtech.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI Racing Tech</a> – University of Hawai’i, University of California San Diego</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/autonomous-tiger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Autonomous Tiger Racing – Auburn University</a></p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/purdue-university-united-states-military-academy-west-point" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Black &amp; Gold Autonomous Racing</a> – Purdue University, United States Military Academy at West Point</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://autonomousracing.dev/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cavalier Autonomous Racing</a> – University of Virginia</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">EuroRacing – University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy), University of Pisa (Italy), ETH Zürich (Switzerland), Polish Academy of Sciences (Poland)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/indiana-universitypurdue-university-indianapolis?fbclid=IwAR0HP4bOppNPkRp7j0UXNqim1xPlhIFWexnIHoKCuXCQfUMIYZGfkCq7Wkg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IUPUI-IITKGP-USB</a> – Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (India), Universidad de San Buenaventura (Colombia)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.kaist.ac.kr/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KAIST</a> – Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (South Korea)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://uwaterloo.ca/scholar/bmao/mit-pitt-rw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT-PITT-RW</a> – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pittsburgh, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Waterloo (Canada)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.move.deib.polimi.it/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PoliMOVE</a> – Politecnico di Milano (Italy), University of Alabama</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.mw.tum.de/en/ftm/main-research/intelligent-vehicle-systems/indy-autonomous-challenge/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TUM Autonomous Motorsport</a> – Technische Universität München (Germany)</p></li></ol><h2 dir="ltr">Watch the event on October 23rd</h2><p dir="ltr">While the teams will be pushing the Dallara AV-21 to the limits, beyond the test cases that a road car would see, the stakes are higher with elevated speeds and the addition of aerodynamics. Those <a href="https://www.eventeny.com/events/indy-autonomous-challenge-1750/" target="_blank">attending the event</a> in person will see if the cars make it to the finish line unscathed, and just how differently each team has programmed their systems to compete with a track full of other race cars.&nbsp;</p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="false" style="width: 756px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><p><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjMzNjkwMjUzNjc0LUNsZW1zb24tVW5pdmVyc2l0eS0tLUVuZ2luZWVyaW5nLXRoZS1JQUMtUmFjZWNhci5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" class="fr-fic fr-dii" style="width: 788px;"><span class="fr-inner" contenteditable="true">The IAC race is the culmination of months of work by university teams. Image credit: IAC.</span></p></span></span></div><h2>Autonomous vehicle technology the big winner</h2><p dir="ltr">Engineers will be poised to learn how far University teams have gotten with their autonomous software. The winner of a $1 million prize will be determined, but you’ll also see whether there’s still much development required before we are racing autonomous cars, or whether we are closer than anticipated. Viewers will have a front-row seat to determine if the IAC furthered its mission of bringing autonomous technology and advanced driver-assistance systems closer to commercialization. The US Department of Energy estimates that autonomous vehicles would <a href="https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com/challenge" target="_blank">reduce energy consumption by 60%</a>. The IAC is a bold step toward technologies that will help reduce CO2 emissions in the transportation sector.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">About the sponsor: Ansys</h2><p><em>Ansys provides engineering simulation software used to predict how product designs will behave in real-world environments. Founded in 1970, Ansys employs more than 4,400 professionals, many of whom are expert M.S and Ph.D.-level engineers in finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, electronics, semiconductors, embedded software, and design optimization.</em></p><p><em><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1633934199773-Ansys+banner+image.jpg" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&nbsp;</em></p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>

Image credit: Hexagon’s AutonomouStuff 

The Indy Autonomous Challenge will take place on October 23, 2021. Fully-autonomous Dallara-produced retrofitted-Indy Lights race cars will race without drivers in a competition to win 1 million dollars. 

The Indy Autonomous Race Revving To Make History

<p dir="ltr"><em>Together with Ansys, a developer of simulation software, we are creating a series of content about the technologies that make sustainable transportation possible. Part of this series follows&nbsp;</em><em>The Indy Autonomous Challenge&nbsp;</em><em>which is seeking to overcome prominent barriers to automated vehicle (AV) commercialization through an intensive learning cycle where the next generation of automotive engineers test the boundaries of current assumptions. The Challenge will culminate in a final race held in October of 2021, where teams will compete by autonomously racing a modified Dallara-built Indy Lights race car around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) using the software they have each developed. &nbsp;Read more about the background to the Challenge in our foundation article <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-indy-autonomous-challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here.</a></em></p><p dir="ltr">The next stage in the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) is the simulation race taking place on June 30, 2021 where the university teams will compete for a $100,000 USD prize for first place and a $50,000 USD prize for second place. <strong>Watch the race live here:</strong></p><p dir="ltr"><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gTjQ3sWdYh0?&amp;ab_channel=Ansys&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 768px; height: 408px;"></iframe></span></strong></p><p dir="ltr">Beyond the cash prize, teams are motivated to perform well in order to demonstrate code readiness and safe vehicle operation. The simulation race is a crucial step towards proving that the autonomous vehicle controller can safely race a car at speeds of over 120 mph. Engineers must successfully compete in the simulated race before teams head to the track to test the modified Dallara Indy Lights race car ahead of the final high-speed autonomous race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on October 23, 2021.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">Sim Race Prep: Software and Hardware Development Tools</h2><p dir="ltr">Engineering teams have had access to the <a href="https://www.ansys.com/products/av-simulation" target="_blank">Ansys VRXPERIENCE Driving Simulator</a> to develop and test their autonomous vehicle code. Each team was also given the freedom to choose their preferred programming language. The Ansys framework is code agnostic, which greatly shortens the time from concept to simulation. University teams didn’t need to waste any time getting up to speed with a specific type of code before diving into their project.</p><p dir="ltr">During the development hackathons and as the teams prepared for the simulation race on their own, they had access to the Microsoft Azure framework. They were given an unlimited number of compute credits to allow them to scale their simulations to complete as many virtual miles as possible before the on-track event. Each individual compute instance was determined based on the compute power available on the vehicle itself, allowing teams to realistically optimize performance.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Sensor Inputs on the Dallara Race Car</h3><p dir="ltr">Competitors were kept apprised of the modifications on the Dallara Indy Lights car via virtual design reviews. The sensor suite added to the race car allows for all-around visibility, multiple times. In terms of the sensors added to the car, teams have the following inputs from 360° around the Dallara:</p><ul><li dir="ltr">6 cameras</li><li dir="ltr">4 radars</li><li dir="ltr">3 lidars</li><li dir="ltr">1 GPS IMU</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">The Main Development Objectives for the Sim Race</h3><p dir="ltr">Based on the inputs available, the focus for the simulation race is to develop an autonomous vehicle code that is adept at path planning (or motion planning) and motion execution. Path planning is determining the appropriate number and location of steps to move an object from its starting location to the destination. Motion execution is then taking the required path and converting it into the speed and direction required. In this case, the throttle input and steering angle would need to be specified.</p><p dir="ltr">Additional real-world modeling is included within the simulation race. Tire degradation is modeled by decreasing the coefficient of friction as the race progresses. Vehicle drafting is also simulated, such that when the race car is within a few car lengths of the vehicle in front, the drag on the car is reduced, and teams can leverage the opportunity to overtake their competitors. The teams’ code will have to successfully navigate changing simulated race conditions in order to win. While the cash prize would be a huge honor and boost to the winning team, the data and experience generated by the race is also invaluable. Teams will be looking to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their code as well as get a good look at the competition. The brilliance of the simulation software is that it allows for post-race deep dives that will reveal where the teams need to improve, adjust and tweak before the next stage of the challenge.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j5EETQEC8XU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" style="width: 737px; height: 418px;"></iframe></span></p><h2 dir="ltr">Simulation Race Day Logistics and Competitors</h2><p dir="ltr">University teams from around the world are participating in the Indy Autonomous Challenge. &nbsp;Each team has a different number of members, with different academic backgrounds. For instance, some teams are a core group of eight undergraduate students within engineering and computer science, like at the University of Waterloo, while other teams have more than 27 team members, who are primarily Ph.D. candidates and MSc students, like at Politecnico di Milano. Teams are continually assessed for race worthiness and must meet expectations and deadlines to be able to continue to participate.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">On June 30th, the competing teams will gather for preliminary rounds of competition leading up to the final simulation race. Each team’s vehicle controller will be plugged into the Ansys VRXPERIENCE Driving Simulator platform to first demonstrate single-lap performance. Time Trials occur first, where one car at a time will be raced and the lap times will be recorded to set the starting grid for two heat races.</p><p dir="ltr">Odd-numbered finishers (the fastest single lap, the third fastest, and so on) will take part in the first heat race, and even-numbered finishers will be part of a second heat race. These heat races will be 10 laps long, and the top finishers from each heat race will make it into the final simulation race. The final will also be a 10-lap race, and the fastest finisher will be the winner, provided no rule breaches.&nbsp;</p><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 788px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIxMjM5NTMyMTQxLTIwMjEtNS0xNCAyMi4xNy4zNC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="View of the simulated race track with a black race car and a line of red cars on the right hand side. "><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false">The simulated track developed by Ansys for the IAC Simulation Race.</span></span></span><h2 class="fr-img-space-wrap2">Awarding the Winner of the Simulation Race Live</h2></div><p dir="ltr">A three-person panel of race stewards ensures that all participants are abiding by the rules. If a car is deemed to be impeding another or has caused a collision, the stewards will black flag the car, disqualifying them from the winner’s circle. They will also keep a close eye on whether all competitors stay within track limits.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">The ultimate goal of the simulation race is to demonstrate safety. The tiered approach to race day will see the complexities increase as the number of cars on the track increases. And the winning team will come away from the day with more than a cash prize; they’ll have validated all their development efforts and approximately a year’s worth of engineering effort. Successfully managing the simulation race puts teams in good stead to move towards the finale in October.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="ltr">Watch the race live with Ansys and Wevolver</h2><p dir="ltr">You can watch the live stream on June 30th to see the teams battle it out on the virtual race track by getting updates about the links <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/events/ansysindyautonomouschallengesim6810133693840011264/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. In addition to the excitement of live racing, inquisitive technical minds will enjoy the high-speed performance test of the teams’ autonomous controllers. Commentary into the team's success and engineering choices will be provided by simulation and automotive experts.&nbsp;</p><p dir="ltr">Read more about the Indy Autonomous Challenge in our foundational article <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/the-indy-autonomous-challenge" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p dir="ltr"><em>This article was written by former motorsport engineer&nbsp;</em><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kattie-thorndyke/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>Kattie Thorndyke</em></a><em>&nbsp;with editing by the Wevolver Team and Ansys Global Industry Director, Tarun Tejpal.&nbsp;</em></p><h2 dir="ltr"><em>About the sponsor: Ansys</em></h2><p dir="ltr"><em><a href="https://www.ansys.com/" target="_blank">Ansys</a> provides engineering simulation software used to predict how product designs will behave in real-world environments. Founded in 1970, Ansys employs more than 4,400 professionals, many of whom are expert M.S. and Ph.D.-level engineers in finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, electronics, semiconductors, embedded software, and design optimization.</em><em><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjIxMjY5NzU3OTcxLWFuYWxzeSBsb2dvIGJhbm5lciBib3R0b20uanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 788px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></em></p>

Before autonomous race cars take to the track, university teams must qualify in a simulation race around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where the winner will be awarded a $100,000 USD prize.

The Indy Autonomous Challenge Simulation Race

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