The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and Politecnico di Milano recently joined forces with Maserati and 1000 Miglia Experience Florida to carry out an ambitious high-tech initiative during the competition’s latest event in Cape Canaveral at the end of February 2025. At the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) at the Kennedy Space Center, the two teams set a new autonomous driving world speed record with a Maserati MC20 Coupe. The LLF facility was chosen for the attempt as it is one of the world’s longest runways at 15,000ft (2.8 miles) and the historic location for NASA Space Shuttle landings.
Development of the AI driver software was completed by the PoliMOVE-MSU team – part of the performance division of AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Driving Autonomous of Politecnico di Milano). The Indy Autonomous Challenge Maserati MC20 Coupe, guided by artificial intelligence from Politecnico di Milano and modified to run autonomously, reached 197.7mph (318km/h) autonomously and with no human driver on board. This surpasses the previously held absolute record for an autonomous car of 192.8mph, set by IAC and PoliMOVE at the same location in April 2022 with an IAC AV-21 race car.
“These world speed records are much more than just a showcase of future technology; we are pushing AI-driver software and robotics hardware to the absolute edge. Doing so with a streetcar is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of IAC and Aidoptation.
“The goal of high-speed tests is to evaluate the behavior of robo-drivers in extreme conditions. These AI systems have been tested in production vehicles at legal road speeds in the Indy Autonomous Challenge races since 2021. The AIDA team used this test to push the boundaries of autonomous driving, improving safety and reliability. Conducted in controlled environments without a human driver, the test assesses the AI’s stability, robustness, and reaction time, ultimately enhancing safety for low-speed urban mobility situations,” added Professor Sergio Matteo Savaresi, the scientific director of the project and director of the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering at the Politecnico di Milano.
