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Safran takes its first laps in the new world of autonomous auto racing at the Consumer Electronics Show
Safran Electronics & Defense and its subsidiary Orolia, recently acquired, reached a new milestone in showcasing how our market-leading resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions and GNSS simulation technology are driving autonomous vehicle innovation.
One of the major highlights of the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest and most influential tech show in the world, was the Indy Autonomous Challenge at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Nine fully autonomous Formula 1 race cars, representing colleges and universities from around the world, took part in a head-to-head driverless racing competition roaring at speeds approaching 180 mph.
Safran sponsored the Autonomous Tiger Racing team from Auburn University where engineering students are enrolled in the Orolia Academic Partnership Program (OAPP). OAPP provides research and educational institutions with access to Skydel, the world’s leading software-based GNSS simulation platform that powers Orolia’s advanced simulators like the GSG-8.
The official vehicle of the Indy Challenge is the Dallara-built AV-21, which has been retrofitted with hardware and controls to enable automation. Auburn students use Skydel along with an Orolia GNSS simulator in the lab to test the car under the various scenarios and conditions it might face at high speeds while navigating its way around the track.
GNSS Simulation at high speeds
The IAC is a broadly collaborative effort that brings together public-private partnerships and academic institutions to challenge university students around the world to imagine, invent and prove a new generation of automated vehicle software to run fully autonomous racecars and inspire the next generation of STEM talent.
The competition was conducted as a single elimination tournament consisting of multiple rounds of dual passing competition matches culminating in a championship match. The two unmanned vehicles took turns playing the role of leader (defender) and passer/follower (attacker). Passes were attempted at ever-increasing speeds until one or both cars were unable to complete a pass.
The Auburn University team finished in a strong position and achieved their main objectives: pushing their skills to the limit while making technological improvements to accelerate a self-driving vehicle at high velocities without crashing or losing the signal.
Accurate GNSS simulation: a challenge for numerous sectors
Orolia’s Skydel Simulation Engine offers the best of both worlds: the high-end performance from a top-grade GNSS simulator, coupled with the economy of scale and flexibility of its software-defined architecture. In addition to commercial applications like autonomous transportation, global aviation, and new space, Skydel powers each of Orolia Defense & Security's advanced software-defined simulators, like the BroadSim and BroadSim Wavefront, as unmanned systems are driving new military technology.
To learn more: Orolia - The World Leader in Resilient PNT
Safran sponsorised the Indy Autonomous Race at the Las Vegas CES
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