Audi is teaming up with various labs from computer hardware to dynamics control.  It plans to conquer Pikes Peak of California and claims as king of the mountain.  You may know that Pikes Peak is the ultimate challenge to test the skills of not only the race driver but also the car.  Every twist and turn of Pikes Peak requires undivided attention; one false move you could end down the ravine.  Many tried but few succeeded the ultimate goal, because you need a car that is one with the road and the driver (not on this car).
To create such a car, you need to call upon all the thinking and experience of people in many related fields. Audi has teamed up with Volkswagen Electronics Research Lab, Stanford Dynamics Design Lab, and Sun Microsystems for the central processing unit. Â When you put all these teams together, you get a telematic control system that let the driver becomes with the car. Â Every year many cars come to claim the best speed time to the top, and the Audi TTS is just another car waiting to be eaten up by the mountain. Â Will the Audi TTS Pikes Peak able to claim such a name or will it create another statistic category “tin can” who got crushed by the mountain, we’ll see?
[Source: Audi]
All about the Audi Pikes Peak TTS
The Audi Pikes Peak TTS is nicknamed “Shelley” by the Stanford DDL after Michele Mouton, arguably the most successful female rally driver to date who played a significant part in Audi’s racing history.
Goal
To collaborate with Stanford to build an autonomous vehicle capable of completing the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in a reasonable time using rally driving techniques.
Team:
Convert a vehicle to drive by wire, develop a safety architecture to ensure a reliable autonomous drive with no safety driver, and implement Stanford’s control algorithms on a system jointly developed with Sun Microsystems.
Stanford Dynamics Design Lab
Develop robust control algorithms that enable the vehicle to drive at the limits of handling on a variety of surfaces, and lets it complete the Pikes Peak course.
Sun Microsystems
Specify a hardware platform that can run Stanford’s real time algorithms and develop a framework that enables Real Time Java to the vehicle CAN system.
Vehicle:
Make and model: 2009 Audi TTS
Engine: 2.0L Turbocharged I4 DOHC
Transmission: 6-Speed S tronic automatic transmission
Fuel Consumption: City: 21 mpg
Combined: 24
Power: 265 hp & 6000 rpm1
Torque: 258 lb-ft. @ 2500 – 5000 rpm
Top speed: 155 (249km/h),
Acceleration: 0-60mph: 4.9sec
Weight incl. sensor: ~ 1470kg.
Drive-By-Wire:
Steering: Modified ”APA-BS” (Axially Parallel Actuation-Braun-Schweig), a new production electric power steering system with direct by-wire control through custom ERL Electronics.
Throttle: Electronics from VW ERL reproduce signals to emulate a driver pressing on the throttle.
Brakes: Active brake booster from Continental with by-wire control through ERL Electronics.
Gear: Modification of signals exchanged between transmission and gear shifter using custom ERL electronics on production hardware.
Parking brake: Use of stock electric parking brake from VW Passat through a custom ERL electronic interface utilized on Junior.
Safety:
In addition to multiple redundant systems for vehicle control, and emergency shutdown the Pikes Peak TTS has a Solaris based system running a Java RTS system monitor that can perform a vehicle shutdown if it determines conditions have become unsafe.
As a backup solution, the vehicle includes a telemetry system that can transmit all vehicle parameters to a receiving station up to 20 miles away which can also shut down the vehicle remotely, or order the safety systems to engage and bring the car to a controlled stop.
Sensors:
The Pikes Peak TTS utilizes an Applanix POS LV420 GPS and Inertial Measurement Unit to measure its position.
Vehicle Control:
Hardware:
Two independent systems are being used in the Pikes Peak TTS, the initial controller development is being done on an XPC target using Matlab and Simulink which are the standard research tools from Stanford’s DDL. The final vehicle controls are being run on ruggedized custom built solutions running a Core2Duo CPU and Solaris operating system that is being developed in collaboration with Sun Microsystems.
Software:
The Stanford University Dynamics Design Lab is developing cutting edge control algorithms that look to optimize the ability to control the vehicle under the most demanding circumstances. As these algorithms are finalized they will be merged into a new framework being developed at the ERL based that shares many components with other ERL Autonomous driving projects.
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