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Over the last couple of years, Stanford University has been one of the most successful teams in the US military's 'DARPA' challenge, a competition to create the world's first true self-driving car.
Their latest weapon is an Audi TT-S called ‘Shelley', which already holds the unofficial world record for the fastest autonomous car at 130mph. But here's the big news: Stanford has announced that Shelley is set to tackle the Pikes Peak hillclimb next year.
All on her own.
Yes, that's a self-driving car, racing up the terrifying 12.4-mile Colorado hillclimb with its sheer, thousand-foot drops and 156 turns. That's like... the future!
Stanford has already tested Shelley in the less hazardous surroundings of the Bonneville Salt Flats, and recently took the TT-S on a gentle ‘sighter run' up Pikes Peak.
But next year, they say, Shelley will be taking on the hill at full race pace. We'll keep a close eye on the Stanford team and let you know how they're getting on.
If you're wondering why she's called Shelley, by the way, it's in honour of Michele Mouton, the most successful female rally driver in history and the first woman to win Pikes Peak - and she did it all in an Audi Quattro...
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StigsIrishCousn commented on this article
at 12:01 pm on 27 October 2009
It would be amazing if it completed the run, but let's be honest a lot funnier if it drove straight off the side and plunged to the depths below in a fireball!!
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crazi_duckling commented on this article
at 12:17 pm on 27 October 2009
why do feel this is gonna end in disaster?? but this is a fail already, robots maybe to everything humans can but never in any sort of sport or motor-sport
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LeBonkers commented on this article
at 12:23 pm on 27 October 2009
It'd be even funnier when it starts talking in the middle of the race...
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marshknute commented on this article
at 12:39 pm on 27 October 2009
If they are going to race it, they need to set it up properly...with several gallons of propane aboard. That way, if worse comes to worse, it will still be rewarding.
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AdrianM commented on this article
at 01:33 pm on 27 October 2009
So... it's called Shelley in honour of someone whose name is Michele Mouton, a name notable for being in no way remotely like Shelley? And these people claim to be able to make a car do the Pikes peak by itself? They cant even read.
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