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Audi's autonomous TTS Coupe set to race up Pikes Peak with no driver
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Audi announces Pikes Peak TTS Autonomous Vehicle (All photos: Audi)
OK. Maybe you've heard of some cars that can beep when you're about to back over your kid's bike in the driveway. How about the one that can parallel park all by itself? What about the competition that the US Defense depart held to make off-road vehicles that could drive across rough and tumble desert? VW did that one quite well with a specially modified Toureg.
So what tops that? How about Audi making an autonomous TTS Coupe that races up Pikes Peak, one of the most dangerous road courses in the world? One wrong move and you don't just crash into a barrier. There are no freakin' barriers. Your car just keeps rolling over and over into a ball for 13,000 feet down. Then you hit a big rock or something at the bottom.
Audi has teamed up with Stanford University to create an autonomous TT-S, named "Shelley". Cute name.
Designed to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the car has been outfitted with 'drive by wire' technology which uses algorithms developed by Stanford University and Sun Microsystems. The algorithms will process data collected by the "Applanix POS LV420 GPS and the Inertial Measurement Unit" to steer the car up the mountain. Other techno goodies include an 'APA-BS' (Axially Parallel Actuation-Braun-Schweig) electric power steering system, an electronic throttle, and an emergency shutdown system.
According to Audi, "Two independent systems are being used in the Pikes Peak TTS, the initial controller development is being done on an XPC target using Matlab and Simulink which are the standard research tools from Stanford's DDL. The final vehicle controls are being run on ruggedized custom built solutions running a Core2Duo CPU and Solaris operating system that is being developed in collaboration with Sun Microsystems."
While the TT-S can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds - thanks to a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with 265 hp and 258 lb-ft of toque - Audi says the primary goal is to complete the hill climb "in (a) reasonable time, using rally driving techniques."
Official press release:
All about the Audi Pikes Peak TTS
The Audi Pikes Peak TTS is nicknamed "Shelley" by the Stanford DDL after Michele Mouton, arguably the most successful female rally driver to date who played a significant part in Audi's racing history.
Goal:
To collaborate with Stanford to build an autonomous vehicle capable of completing the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a reasonable time using rally driving techniques.
Team:
Volkswagen Electronics Research Lab
Convert a vehicle to drive by wire, develop a safety architecture to ensure a reliable autonomous drive with no safety driver, and implement Stanford's control algorithms on a system jointly developed with Sun Microsystems.
Stanford Dynamics Design Lab:
Develop robust control algorithms that enable the vehicle to drive at the limits of handling on a variety of surfaces, and lets it complete the Pikes Peak course.
Sun Microsystems:
Specify a hardware platform that can run Stanford's real time algorithms and develop a framework that enables Real Time Java to the vehicle CAN system.
Vehicle:
Make and model: 2009 Audi TTS
Engine: 2.0L Turbocharged I4 DOHC
Transmission: 6-Speed S tronic automatic transmission
Fuel Consumption: City: 21 mpg
Highway: 29 mpg
Combined: 24
Power: 265 hp & 6000 rpm1
Torque: 258 lb-ft. @ 2500 - 5000 rpm
Top speed: 155 (249km/h),
Acceleration: 0-60mph: 4.9sec
Weight incl. sensor: ~ 1470kg.
Drive-By-Wire:
Steering: Modified "APA-BS" (Axially Parallel Actuation-Braun-Schweig), a new production electric power steering system with direct by-wire control through custom ERL Electronics.
Throttle: Electronics from VW ERL reproduce signals to emulate a driver pressing on the throttle.
Brakes: Active brake booster from Continental with by-wire control through ERL Electronics.
Gear: Modification of signals exchanged between transmission and gear shifter using custom ERL electronics on production hardware.
Parking brake: Use of stock electric parking brake from VW Passat through a custom ERL electronic interface utilized on Junior.
Safety:
In addition to multiple redundant systems for vehicle control, and emergency shutdown the Pikes Peak TTS has a Solaris based system running a Java RTS system monitor that can perform a vehicle shutdown if it determines conditions have become unsafe.
As a backup solution, the vehicle includes a telemetry system that can transmit all vehicle parameters to a receiving station up to 20 miles away which can also shut down the vehicle remotely, or order the safety systems to engage and bring the car to a controlled stop.
Sensors:
The Pikes Peak TTS utilizes an Applanix POS LV420 GPS and Inertial Measurement Unit to measure its position.
Vehicle Control:
Hardware:
Two independent systems are being used in the Pikes Peak TTS, the initial controller development is being done on an XPC target using Matlab and Simulink which are the standard research tools from Stanford's DDL. The final vehicle controls are being run on ruggedized custom built solutions running a Core2Duo CPU and Solaris operating system that is being developed in collaboration with Sun Microsystems.
Software:
The Stanford University Dynamics Design Lab is developing cutting edge control algorithms that look to optimize the ability to control the vehicle under the most demanding circumstances. As these algorithms are finalized they will be merged into a new framework being developed at the ERL based that shares many components with other ERL Autonomous driving projects.
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