Indy Autonomous Challenge: Advancing Autonomous Driving at Kennedy Space Centre
The Indy Autonomous Challenge and Italy's foremost scientific-technological institution, Politecnico di Milano, have teamed up with Maserati and 1000 Miglia Experience Florida for a cutting-edge tech initiative during the famous Cape Canaveral, Florida event. This project forms part of MOST—Italy’s National Centre for Sustainable Mobility, which promotes research, innovation, and infrastructure enhancements to forge scalable, eco-friendly transport solutions.
The Challenge has triumphantly returned to the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, aiming to establish a new world record in autonomous driving. The facility boasts one of the globe's longest runways, at 15,000 feet (2.8 miles), and is a notable site for historic NASA Space Shuttle landings. Initially used for government activities, the facility now thrives as a centre for aerospace innovation, research, manufacturing, and testing.
The AI driver software, developed by the PoliMOVE-MSU team from AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous of Politecnico di Milano, directed a Maserati MC20 Coupé to an unprecedented speed of 197.7 mph (318 km/h), autonomously and without a human driver. This surpasses the previous record of 192.8 mph set in April 2022 at the same venue.
Previously, the Maserati MC20 Coupe, driven by Politecnico di Milano's robotic driver, held the record for the fastest autonomous production car at 177 mph (285 km/h) achieved at the Piacenza Military Airport track in November 2024. This achievement underlines significant advances in high-speed autonomous driving and the potential for applying race-derived technologies to commercial vehicles.
“These world speed records are more than just a technological showcase; they push AI-driver software and robotics hardware to their limits. Leveraging a streetcar for these tests helps translate high-speed autonomous racing advancements into secure, sustainable mobility on highways,” remarked Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV.
In collaboration with Politecnico di Milano researchers, the Challenge has once more tested the limits of autonomous technology, evaluating vehicle performance under extreme conditions at the Kennedy Space Center. This proves the durability and dependability of their autonomous driving algorithms.
“These high-speed tests aim to assess robo-driver behaviour in extreme conditions. Since 2021, these AI systems have been rigorously tested in legal road speeds during Indy Autonomous Challenge races. The AIDA team used this test to enhance autonomous driving safety and reliability,” explained Prof. Sergio Matteo Savaresi, Scientific Director of the project and Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering at Politecnico di Milano.
After the record-breaking test, a second Maserati MC20 Cielo convertible began its American tour by joining the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida convoy. This vehicle, a significant participant in the 2023 edition of the historical 1000 Miglia race, where it autonomously traversed approximately 60 km across Italy, will now parade across the United States, highlighting Italian research excellence.
“The 1000 Miglia is not just a race; it's a historical journey, symbolising innovation and Italian automotive prowess. The synergy between the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida and the groundbreaking autonomous technologies from the Politecnico di Milano signifies a major leap forward in mobility's future. Witnessing a Maserati MC20, an emblem of Italian design and performance, excel with AI showcases how tradition and innovation can coexist. This inaugural edition in Florida starts a new chapter for the 1000 Miglia, merging heritage with cutting-edge innovation,” commented Massimo Cicatiello, President of EGA USA, the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida organiser.
The presence of the Maserati MC20 Cielo underscores a connection between past and future, enhancing mobility's evolution and propelling Italian engineering onto the global stage.
The collaboration between the Indy Autonomous Challenge and Politecnico di Milano, supported by Maserati and the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida, is a pivotal development in autonomous driving exploration. It lays a solid foundation for advancing technologies to commercialise autonomous vehicles and ADAS systems, tackle real-world challenges, push innovation boundaries, and boost safety and performance in motorsport and urban and commercial transport.
