Next-Gen: Pushing Boundaries of Possibilities

Quanser, a Canadian firm advancing technologies in self-driving cars, drones and artificial intelligence (AI), recently (mid-July 2024) sponsored the Self-Driving Car Student Competition at the American Control Conference (ACC) in Toronto.

The competition began with 39 global teams from 28 universities in a virtual design and submission stage. After algorithm validation with Quanser’s physical vehicles, the top 11 teams were selected to compete on-site.

The event aims to enhance the practical application of control systems, sensor fusion and real-time decision-making, which is essential for improving autonomous vehicle performance. It also assesses the progress of university self-driving car programs.

The competition took place with three stages: Stage 1 consists of a virtual design where contestants submitted their virtual design. Stage 2 is an ongoing portion of the competition where the algorithms are applied to physical cars. Stage 3 is an on-site demonstration for the shortlisted teams at ACC 2024 in Toronto and participate in the on-site competition.

Each team was given a virtual environment compatible with the on-site demonstration and had access to a virtual representation of vehicle models provided by Quanser. Teams submitted their conceptual plan based on the tasks given.

Digital Engineering: What does the competition showcase?

Dr. Jacob Apkarian, founder and chief technology officer of Quanser (via news release): “I am incredibly proud to support the next generation of innovators through the Self-Driving Car Student Competition at the ACC. This competition not only showcases the remarkable talent and creativity of students worldwide but also underscores the importance of hands-on learning and real-world problem-solving in advancing [AV] technology.”

DE: What was the conference setting?

The ACC has been the premier international conference for Control systems research for over 50 years. The event features a comprehensive technical program with regular and invited sessions, tutorial and special sessions, workshops and exhibits. Topics include AI and automation, showcasing the latest innovations and research. The conference aims to foster inclusivity and diversity, providing a platform for scholars and professionals to share their work and ideas.

DE: What does the competition instill in students?

Paul Karam, chief robotics officer at Quanser (via news release): “I am thrilled to witness the ingenuity and dedication of students participating in the Self-Driving Car Student Competition at the ACC. This event provides a unique platform for young engineers to tackle real-world challenges, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. [T]his competition highlights our dedication to developing the leaders of tomorrow in the field of robotics and control systems.”

DE: Who participated in the event?

Hugh Liu, professor, UTIAS and director, Centre for Aerial Robotics Research and Education (CARRE) (via news release): “The Quanser-sponsored self-driving car student competition ... has drawn international student teams to participate. A total of 53 students from 11 universities are finalists in the competition and will showcase their talents, creative concepts and innovative approaches in the most exciting autonomous control domain. ... The representative students also demonstrate the diversity, equity and inclusiveness that the IEEE Control Systems Society is advocating.”