Audi is always in pursuit of newer technologies to make their cars safer and be ahead of the competition. But what they are about to embark upon is something that had yet been tried before, and it involves a trip to the infamous Hockenheimring later this month.
Bringing down a street-going RS7 along with them, Audi will try to take the car and lap the circuit at full race pace, all without a driver piloting the vehicle. This is to demonstrate their upcoming Piloted Driving autonomous system that they are hoping could not only negotiate the track without any incident, but also “approximately as fast as with a professional race car driver at the wheel”.
Audi had tested the system before and it was able to lap the Grand Prix circuit in just over two minutes, reaching a top speed of 240km/h in the test. Audi is also inviting their fans to watch the attempt live at www.audi.com/piloted-driving on 19th October.
The idea of a driverless race car might be interesting where it can showcase the advanced technology an auto manufacturer has. But for it to evolve into a race series might be a bit farfetched and dull at the same time where motor racing has always been interesting when you put the human factor into the equation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSD6ld1pM94
