5 Reasons Why Driverless Racing Will Be Exciting

Motorsport fans have been quick to dismiss driverless racing, but we reckon they're wrong to do so. Here are five reasons why race fans should get excited for Roborace
5 Reasons Why Driverless Racing Will Be Exciting

1. The Roborace car looks incredible

Image Source: FIA Formula E
Image Source: FIA Formula E

Roborace unveiled a first look at what its autonomous racing car will look like today, with the series itself kicking off at the end of the year. Roborace has called in sci-fi designer Daniel Simon, the man behind the ships in Oblivion and the Light Cycle in Tron: Legacy, to pen the concept of the driverless race car.

From what we’ve seen today, the results are incredible. Looking like a cross between a Hot Wheels car and a spider, the Roboracer is exactly what we think an exciting, futuristic racing car should look like. Since the cars don’t have to meet driver safety requirements like every other series, the bodywork can be a lot more compact and aggressive.

2. It could become the fastest race series ever

5 Reasons Why Driverless Racing Will Be Exciting

There are several reasons why modern race cars go as fast as they do. While there are restrictions such as bodywork regulations and safety requirements, there’s also the physical limitations of the driver as well.

Of course, fighter pilots have endured huge g-forces for decades, but drivers have to undergo massive g-forces over long periods of time. They might be able to handle it at the beginning of a race, but their pace could drop off dramatically towards the end if g-forces are consistently too high. Autonomous race cars don’t have to worry about human limitations like exhaustion, which could make the cars extremely fast over the full race distance.

Remote video URL

Autonomous motoring is still very much in its infancy right now and there’s already been numerous reports of driverless cars getting confused over road markings and directions, though Google’s self-driving car has only caused one crash itself so far.

One of the most exciting aspects of motorsport is when something goes wrong, because uncertainty is what makes us want to watch it. Driverless cars may be able to successfully navigate a circuit, but what happens when they go for an overtake? How would the cars know how to avoid a potential crash without starting another? There are so many factors that go into driving competitively and safely that we may see chaotic races in the sport’s infancy.

4.There's potential for spectators to join in

Image Source: Dino 246
Image Source: Dino 246

Sadly, we can’t all just jump into a Formula 1 car and win a Grand Prix. For one, you need a hell of a lot of experience before a Formula 1 team will even consider you. You’d also need to be incredibly fit to be able to push an F1 car to its limits.

Roborace could change this all together. While the cars are being developed to race against other cars, imagine if spectators could win the chance to control one from the pit wall, or could influence certain aspects of the racing like a less rubbish version of Formula E’s FanBoost.

A more extreme idea would be to attach weapons onto the cars and have the fans vote for which car gets what weapon. There’s nobody in the car, so there’s a bigger scope for crazy ideas. There’s no way Roborace would do this, but the future of demolition derbys could be wild!

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Ok, I know we all want to be the driver and wrestle our cars around a race track, but there’s also the driving we have to do to get to work, or take the kids to school. When you’re exhausted after a long week at work, sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy the end of the day.

A driverless motorsport series would accelerate the development of autonomous technology as manufacturers try to gain an advantage over the competition. Motorsport has been used to advance technology at an accelerated rate since cars first became a thing, so don’t expect that to change just because there’s no longer a driver inside.

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Comments

Anonymous

Your points are very reasonable, but there would be no hereos. There would be no Ayrton Senna, no Michael Schumacher and no Sebastian Vettel.

03/31/2016 - 16:13 |
36 | 1
Cascanova

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

But there would be, it would the lead designers and engineers behind the car. The thing I’ve noticed in the car community is the small amounts of credit they give to people who create the cars they adore. Most car enthusiasts look at spec sheets, and the car’s facia, and just say cool. How many here have put their time into investigate those who created a car, and to nerd out behind the design, mechanically, as well as aeronautically.
People in CT talk about downforce, and occasionally drag, but at the end of the day how many people analyze the clever way manufacture play with the air around the car. At the end of the day roboracing will not be about the racer but about the engineering. And as someone who is walking down the engineers path, itd be nice to see credit where it is due.

03/31/2016 - 17:06 |
12 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

There would be heroes in the programming and design category, but i see where your coming from.

03/31/2016 - 17:07 |
1 | 1
Anonymous

How would it be the best? By your reason, sex would be the best if nothing happened.

Watching human error decide the winner is racing. Robots racing is boring.

03/31/2016 - 16:14 |
148 | 7
Bruno Ban

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I totally agree with you

03/31/2016 - 16:15 |
2 | 2
Rndomgamer3210

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Exactly! after the technology reaches it’s peak it will be the most boring thing ever with no chance of a crash, no danger, no risk. That’s what racing is about, risk, going for a gap and doing amazing races not just going around a track.

03/31/2016 - 16:27 |
26 | 2
BIG BORB

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Exactly. It wont be about driver skill anymore it will be about which team has better coding skills etc.

03/31/2016 - 16:43 |
6 | 0
The white comet of Akagi

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Like going in with no condom spices things up and it takes timing to judge it right to you know.. If you don’t do it at all then its dull

03/31/2016 - 17:29 |
0 | 0
Steve Millard

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I think they’re saying that sex would be better if it was faster and with more potential for danger. And I tend to agree with them.

03/31/2016 - 17:31 |
3 | 3
Bruno Ban

I wish that never happens

03/31/2016 - 16:14 |
3 | 0

Well it will happen, you know scientific revolution and that.

04/01/2016 - 07:03 |
0 | 0
Fujiwara Rav4

It would hard to follow because you don’t have that one driver you like, that personality that attracts you to push for them to win. Then it forces you to look for the best looking car in your opinion, but when that happens, does the car show emotion when it wins? You tell me.

03/31/2016 - 16:16 |
2 | 1

The car doesnt show emotion, but the team that designed and created it do. The pitcrew, and designers never get any credit for what is done at the end of the race. People tend to forget that they have personalities and give it their all too, those should be the people you follow and grow attached to if you were to watch Roborace.
Motorsports are very much a team effort but people tend to forget about everyone but the driver.

03/31/2016 - 17:18 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

How about no

03/31/2016 - 16:17 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

Do this site a favour and delete this

03/31/2016 - 16:18 |
4 | 4
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Cant argue with that.

03/31/2016 - 16:20 |
2 | 0
Cameron Tait

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Whoa, just for expressing an opinion? That’s a little extreme! I’m not saying autonomous tech is better than a car that you can drive, not even close. I’m saying that there’s something new coming into the scene and I’d to tell people why I think it could be cool. It won’t be for everyone, and I may even not like it myself, but there’s no harm in getting people to talk about it.

04/01/2016 - 17:14 |
0 | 0
DeLeon

How ? The only thing will be programming and maybe build a decent car.

03/31/2016 - 16:21 |
2 | 1
Cascanova

In reply to by DeLeon

Have you ever actually witnessed the process in car design, the amount of effort and thinking that is done. In a motorsport where it’s only restriction will probably be dimensions it will leave huge room for creativity and innovation.
But hey, who cares about aerodynamics and downforce, it just kinda happens on its own right?
I admit programming may not be exciting, but it is extremely tough, and would be one of the things that would directly transfer mass production, unlike things like active aero, and ground effects.

03/31/2016 - 17:23 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

So that means i will never get a chance to be a racing driver? Dreams crushed.

03/31/2016 - 16:22 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

C’mon it won’t eradicate ordinary drivers racing. It’ll just add another sport to the list.

04/01/2016 - 07:40 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

With all due respect but sod off mate

03/31/2016 - 16:23 |
9 | 4
Cameron Tait

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Well, it’s just an opinion, mate.

04/01/2016 - 16:58 |
0 | 0
carburetor55

It’d just be novelty, but I’ll still love to watch driverless cars battle Burnout style.

03/31/2016 - 16:33 |
1 | 0