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Abu Dhabi Launches World’s Biggest Self-Driving Car Race

The Autonomous Racing League will see 10 teams from around the world competing in specially built Dallara Super Formula cars.

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1 year ago

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abu dhabi launches world's biggest self-driving car race
Aspire

Abu Dhabi has launched what it calls “the world’s biggest racing league for self-driving cars“. The vehicles use advanced technologies and AI, and the series is aimed at promoting driverless technology.

The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) will take place on April 28, 2024, at the Yas Marina Circuit. The prize fund amounts to $2.25 million, with 10 teams competing for a slice of the winnings. Aspire, the development arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, revealed its plans for the upcoming race at GITEX Global on Monday.

Autonomous race teams will mostly be made up of universities and research organizations. The event will see a number of countries involved, including the UAE, USA, China, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Singapore, and Switzerland.

For the race, teams will all use the same base vehicle, though they will be allowed to tweak its software algorithms. The machine itself is a brand new Italian-developed Dallara Super Formula SF23. The single-seater uses biocomposite panels made from a mixture of “flax fiber, cork, and recycled carbon fiber”. Weighing in at just under 700kg, the car is the fastest open-wheel racer outside of Formula One, capable of a max speed of 300kph.

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“We will combine state-of-the-art motor racing parts with robotic technology and AI to deliver an extreme sporting experience. Our racing is not just applicable to transportation. It is also useful in advancing sectors such as health care and logistics. And to that end, in addition to car racing, we will stage autonomous drone and buggy racing,” said Tom McCarthy, Aspire’s executive director.

Aspire is taking a similar approach to other autonomous race series, allowing all teams from previous self-driving competitions to participate, along with university-affiliated teams and public and private research institutions. Eventually, organizers hope that some of the advanced technology and robotics used in cars will filter down to regular production vehicles.

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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.

Published

5 days ago

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December 17, 2024

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uae prepares to launch two satellites thuraya-2 and mbz-sat

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.

The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.

Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.

Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.

Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.

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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.

The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.

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