The Indy Autonomous Challenge returns to CES 2025, introducing multicar competitions and a partnership with DARPA for groundbreaking advancements in high-speed autonomy.
The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), a prominent event aimed at exhibiting cutting-edge autonomous racing technologies, is set to feature an exciting return during CES 2025. Scheduled for January 9, 2025, the competition will take place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 2 PM to 4 PM PST and promises to showcase groundbreaking advancements in high-speed autonomy.
The 2025 event marks a significant evolution in the world of AI racing, introducing multicar competitions for the first time. This enhancement to the challenge includes teams competing with 3-4 autonomous racecars on track concurrently in a dynamic 20-lap race format. The competition aims to assess not just the performance of individual vehicles but also the capacity of artificial intelligence systems to manage complex interactions between multiple racing agents at high speeds.
The format for the IAC event at CES 2025 features a structured, three-tiered approach to the racing competitions, designed to accommodate teams of all skill levels:
- Tier 1: Involves single-car time trials, allowing teams to demonstrate the stability of their AI drivers at extreme speeds.
- Tier 2: Comprises a two-car passing challenge, where teams face off directly, testing their AI’s adaptability and strategic prowess in a head-to-head racing scenario.
- Tier 3: Features the much-anticipated multicar racing event, with various racecars competing in an open racing format, pushing the limits of AI-driven multi-agent interactions.
The introduction of these tiers not only increases the challenge level but also ensures that every participating team has the opportunity to actively demonstrate their AI advancements within this rapidly evolving arena.
The IAC has expanded its ranks, welcoming two new university teams from Indiana University and the California Institute of Technology, bringing the total number of competing teams to ten. This influx of talent and expertise contributes to a broader pool of innovation within the field of autonomous technology, aiming to enhance the collective effort towards achieving high-speed autonomy.
Beyond the racing aspect, the IAC has secured a strategic partnership with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). As part of this collaboration, the IAC will serve as an official test and evaluation platform under the new DARPA programme, Transfer Learning from Imprecise and Abstract Models to Autonomous Technologies (TIAMAT). This initiative focuses on bridging the gap between simulated and real-world AI training.
Paul Mitchell, president of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, commented, “The Indy Autonomous Challenge is truly leading the charge in the physical AI revolution. By pushing the limits of autonomous technology on the racetrack, we’re not just developing AI that can drive racecars—we’re creating systems that can be applied to everything from aviation to autonomous vehicles and robotics.” He further stated that the event is a demonstration of collaborative achievements among government, academia, and industry in addressing significant technological challenges.
CES 2025 is recognised as the largest innovation event globally, and the IAC will play a crucial role in this gathering, with a display in the West Hall lobby showcasing the world’s fastest autonomous racecar, the IAC-AV-24. Attendees can also partake in several conference sessions that delve into the future of AI in mobility and motorsport, scheduled on January 7 and 8, 2025.
As the race day approaches, the event promises to be an engaging exhibition of speed, innovation, and the ongoing advancements in AI technology. With parking available at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and options for rideshare drop-offs, accessibility for attendees is catered to, highlighting the significance of the occasion.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Corroborates the return of the Indy Autonomous Challenge to CES 2025, the multicar racing format, and the three-tiered competition structure.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Details the schedule and location of the event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the introduction of new university teams.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Explains the three-tiered approach to the racing competitions, including single-car time trials, two-car passing challenges, and multicar racing events.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Mentions the expansion of the IAC with new university teams from Indiana University and the California Institute of Technology.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Describes the strategic partnership with DARPA and the role of IAC in the TIAMAT program.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Quotes Paul Mitchell on the significance of the Indy Autonomous Challenge in the physical AI revolution and its broader applications.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Details the display and conference sessions at CES 2025, including the showcase of the IAC-AV-24 autonomous racecar.
- https://www.indyautonomouschallenge.com – Provides general information about the Indy Autonomous Challenge and its mission to advance autonomous technology.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Outlines the accessibility arrangements for attendees, including parking and rideshare drop-offs at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Highlights the significance of CES 2025 as the largest innovation event and the role of IAC within it.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219471601/en/Indy-Autonomous-Challenge-Returns-to-CES-2025-Showcasing-the-Future-of-Physical-AI-with-Multicar-Racing-and-Groundbreaking-Collaborations – Describes the conference sessions exploring the future of AI in mobility and motorsport during CES 2025.