PARIS - Real-time computing algorithms will replace humans in an innovative series of driverless races to be staged alongside the regular Formula E season, promotors said on Wednesday.
The Formula E championship features 10 teams of two drivers on city-centre circuits
The Formula E championship features 10 teams of two drivers on city-centre circuits. Brazilian Nelson Piquet Junior won the inaugural 2014/2015 world championship.
It is seen as a cleaner and greener alternative to Formula One and the news of the Formula E initiative coincides with the Paris-hosted COP21 global climate talks.
Now Formula E and Kinetik, a technology company specialising in electric vehicles and trains, will also stage races between 10 teams of two driverless cars on the same circuits as a warm-up show to the main event.
This new championship called ‘ROBORACE’ will start for the 2016-2017 season. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) guided one-hour races will run over the full championship.
Denis Sverdlov, the founder of Kinetik and whose brainchild ROBORACE is said he believed it represented the future of motor racing and the motor industry.
“In the future, all of the world’s vehicles will be assisted by AI and powered by electricity, thus improving the environment and road safety," he said.
"ROBORACE is a celebration of revolutionary technology and innovation that humanity has achieved." he explained.
"Robotic technologies and AI can co-exist with us in real life. Anyone who is at the edge of this transformation now has a platform to show the advantages of their driverless solutions and this shall push the development of the technology.”
Cities on the 2015-2016 circuit include Beijing, Paris, Berlin, London and Buenos Aires.