Formula E’s Roborace Reveals Driverless Robocar

Auto racing has always been about Man and machine versus man and machine, but a recently announced racing series wants to cut out the human element and make the sport a fully autonomous affair. Roborace is an all-electric, all-autonomous wheel-to-wheel spectacle proposed by the same minds that brought us Formula E, and now the series has revealed its official vehicle designs.

The car is the brainchild of Daniel Simon, Roborace’s new chief design officer and a Hollywood sci-fi designer whose past works include “Tron: Legacy” and “Oblivion.” Simon was also formerly a senior designer for Bugatti, and has since penned drones, motorcycles, and race cars. We see a little bit of “Tron” in his Robocar design, with its smooth, rounded surfaces and large wheels. Since there’s no driver, there’s no need for a cockpit, which allows the body to be streamlined like a missile. The floor serves as the main aerodynamic device, and active aero pieces that are more “organic and seamless” than what’s currently available are in development, according to Simon.

“My goal was to create a vehicle that takes full advantage of the unusual opportunities of having no driver without ever compromising on beauty,” Simon said in a release. “Racing engineers and aerodynamicists have worked with me from the beginning to strike that balance. The Roborace is as much about competition as it is entertainment. Therefore — and quite unusual in today’s racing world — beauty was very high on our agenda and we work hard to merge the best performance with stunning styling. It was important to us that we generate substantial downforce without unnecessary parts cluttering the car to maintain a clean and iconic look.”

Roborace will serve as the support series for the 2016/2017 Formula E season. The organizers call the events “shows,” so the first races may be more exhibition than actual competition. The events will demonstrate the safety and performance driving capabilities of autonomous vehicles. Audi has already shown us that driverless cars can go fast, so does the idea of an autonomous racing series excite you? What do you think of Roborace’s design? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: Roborace

 

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