SAN FRANCISCO: Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and Stanford Engineering announced a world first in driving research: autonomously drifting two cars in tandem.
The complex maneuver in motorsports was tested at Thunderhill Raceway Park in California using modified GR Supras.
The test was aimed at enhancing vehicle safety in dynamic driving conditions. The project involved TRI developing algorithms for a lead car and Stanford engineers creating AI models for a chase car.
The cars were modified with advanced suspension, engine, and safety systems, and were equipped with real-time communication and control technologies.
The tandem drifting process involves both vehicles continuously planning and adjusting their steering, throttle, and brake commands to maintain safe and precise coordination.
The lead car focuses on sustaining a controlled drift, while the chase car adapts to the lead car’s movements, avoiding collisions through dynamic adjustments.
The use of Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) allows both cars to solve optimisation problems up to 50 times per second, improving their performance with each test.
This development not only showcases advanced vehicle control capabilities but also holds promise for enhancing safety systems in future car, potentially reducing accidents caused by loss of vehicle control.
