As if by magic – some cars drove autonomously at the ZF Race Camp
Friedrichshafen. This year, autonomous driving is making its way into the Formula Student design competition. Six racing cars took to the track without a driver at the tenth ZF Race Camp , the dress rehearsal for Formula Student Germany . The autonomous cars compete in the Formula Student Driverless class, which is being held for the first time this season. Around 700 students met on Thursday and Friday, June 1st and 2nd, at the Friedrichshafen exhibition center to prepare for the coming racing season at ZF.
A total of 24 racing teams from Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy registered for the ZF Race Camp, ran through various racing disciplines and exchanged their experiences. They started with 32 vehicles - including every second vehicle as an electric car and six driverless racing cars. There were also more than 60 ZF engineers and experts from various specialist departments from all over Germany who provided the teams with valuable tips and tricks in the run-up to the Formula Student series.
“Advancing digitalization and autonomous driving as a future-oriented megatrend are driving change in the global automotive industry,” says Human Resources Director Jürgen Holeksa. “We at ZF are actively shaping this change – not only through our broad product portfolio, but also by actively supporting these new mobility solutions.” Not only technical knowledge and IT skills are required at the ZF Race Camp, also in terms of organization, Students must be fit for project management and cost calculation.
“The event is the ideal platform for us to talk to committed young people,” says Martin Frick, head of ZF human resources marketing. The intelligent combination of solid engineering and IT training with enthusiasm for the emotional subject of racing is what makes the design competition special. The new Formula Student Driverless racing class presents the teams with completely new challenges, emphasizes Frick. The current electric cars are supposed to conquer the racetrack without a driver, but with sensors and artificial intelligence. At the latest at the international competition in August at the Hockenheimring, it will become clear which team has mastered this new territory most comprehensively and safely.
ZF has been involved with Formula Student since 2002. 39 university teams are currently sponsored. In addition to providing know-how, ZF supports young international talent with high-tech racing products, financial injections and team building measures.
115 teams from 24 countries have registered for Formula Student this year. The event will take place from August 8th to 13th, 2017 at the Hockenheimring.
This year, autonomous driving is making its way into the Formula Student design competition
