IMS hosts $1 million dollar international racing competition for college students
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Motor Speedway is hosting the Indy Autonomous Challenge featuring 21 universities from nine countries Saturday morning.
Germany, Italy, Canada, India and South Korea are among the countries represented in the competition, which is a platform for students to excel in science, technology, engineering and math.
Nine teams will pilot software designed to improve vehicle safety and performance on race cars.
Indy Autonomous Challenge is organized by Energy Systems Network.
“There will be a time trial competition, something that people at Indianapolis Motor Speedway are familiar with,” Paul Mitchell, the company’s president and CEO said. “It’s an individual car going out running four laps. The highest speed is going to determine the winner. We’ve got some other interesting opportunities to see how these cars can navigate around obstacles that we’re going to bring into the competition.”
The Indiana Department of Education and the StartED Up Foundation have invited 350 inspired high school STEM students from across Indiana to watch the competition.
There will also be industry leaders showcasing autonomous technologies in the alley garages.
Gov. Eric Holcomb, Sen. Todd Young and U.S Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves will be guest speakers at the event.
The team who wins the $1 million dollar prize will help their university advance its education, research and development in automotive engineering.