Look, Ma, no hands & no feet in BMW training car

GregW / Oregon · 05-26-2011, 12:28 PM

From Autoweek online:

By MARK VAUGHN on 5/26/2011

Race-car drivers, you may soon be out of a job. Just as IBM built a computer that could beat humans at chess and even at Jeopardy, BMW has built a car that can beat your lap time. OK, the best drivers can still beat this car, but we can imagine a time when autonomous cars will handle all of our driving needs, even the competitive kind.

We know this because we just took three high-speed laps of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca sitting in the driver's seat--but not driving. Our BMW 330 was turning laps of just more than two minutes, and we weren't doing anything but sitting in it. Acceleration, braking and steering were all done by the car's enormous brain. We had our hands positioned near the steering wheel in case the machine's brain suddenly went nuts, but it hasn't yet done that in more than 12,000 miles of testing.

The car, which has been around for several years, uses GPS, on-board cameras, dead reckoning, ECU data about vehicle parameters and a precisely programmed navigation route to repeat lap after high-speed lap of a route that always follows the racing line.

The idea is to show student drivers the proper braking points, apexes and just when to get on the throttle. It was demonstrated for some members of the media this week.

The car also has circumnavigated Hockenheim and the notorious Nordschleife. It is limited only to tracks that have been programmed into it, and the racing line itself was plotted by a professional driver, but it is impressively quick. Our laps were run at about a 2:04 pace, but engineers said the car could probably lap in the mid-1:50s.

After our stint behind the wheel we got to follow in another 3-series. At first we thought we could easily overtake the autonomous robot wagen, until we realized we were by then in a much more powerful 335i instead of the robotic 330. It would be great fun to try and match lap times in identical cars, with the robo Bimmer cranked all the way up to full tilt. We think we could take him, or her, but you never know. Engineers say the best drivers can still beat their creation, but we think that'll change soon enough.

Future uses are left for the imagination, but we're thinking this would make a good science-fiction movie, at least for now. After that, man-versus-machine Saturday-night grudge matches at your local track.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1NTqSrWIc

signes · 05-26-2011, 03:06 PM

Inevitable, but man, so damn depressing...

Brosef · 05-26-2011, 03:52 PM

I think it's more likely that regular drivers will be replaced (to keep public roads safe). long ways away though.

Erhan · 05-26-2011, 04:26 PM

This was in Top Gear years ago.... or is it more advanced version?

Here actually:

frenchM3dreamer · 05-26-2011, 05:52 PM

i think roads here would be a lot safer if 75% of the drivers were replaced with robots that can actually pay attention to surrounding traffic, change lanes without cutting you off, drive without hitting the brakes every 10 ft because they're looking for the best place to park / eat / crash, and so on...
but from a driving-pleasure perspective, pretty sad indeed...

NRBRNG · 05-27-2011, 10:39 AM

Funny, that's exactly the body language my very first instructor did a few years ago!

05-26-2011, 12:28 PM	#1
GregW / Oregon Commander-In-Chief Drives: 2008 M3 Coupe, 2012 ML350 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 6,196 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2012 Mercedes ML 350 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 Coupe [4.75]	Look, Ma, no hands & no feet in BMW training car From Autoweek online: By MARK VAUGHN on 5/26/2011 Race-car drivers, you may soon be out of a job. Just as IBM built a computer that could beat humans at chess and even at Jeopardy, BMW has built a car that can beat your lap time. OK, the best drivers can still beat this car, but we can imagine a time when autonomous cars will handle all of our driving needs, even the competitive kind. We know this because we just took three high-speed laps of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca sitting in the driver's seat--but not driving. Our BMW 330 was turning laps of just more than two minutes, and we weren't doing anything but sitting in it. Acceleration, braking and steering were all done by the car's enormous brain. We had our hands positioned near the steering wheel in case the machine's brain suddenly went nuts, but it hasn't yet done that in more than 12,000 miles of testing. The car, which has been around for several years, uses GPS, on-board cameras, dead reckoning, ECU data about vehicle parameters and a precisely programmed navigation route to repeat lap after high-speed lap of a route that always follows the racing line. The idea is to show student drivers the proper braking points, apexes and just when to get on the throttle. It was demonstrated for some members of the media this week. The car also has circumnavigated Hockenheim and the notorious Nordschleife. It is limited only to tracks that have been programmed into it, and the racing line itself was plotted by a professional driver, but it is impressively quick. Our laps were run at about a 2:04 pace, but engineers said the car could probably lap in the mid-1:50s. After our stint behind the wheel we got to follow in another 3-series. At first we thought we could easily overtake the autonomous robot wagen, until we realized we were by then in a much more powerful 335i instead of the robotic 330. It would be great fun to try and match lap times in identical cars, with the robo Bimmer cranked all the way up to full tilt. We think we could take him, or her, but you never know. Engineers say the best drivers can still beat their creation, but we think that'll change soon enough. Future uses are left for the imagination, but we're thinking this would make a good science-fiction movie, at least for now. After that, man-versus-machine Saturday-night grudge matches at your local track. Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2011...#ixzz1NTqSrWIc __________________ Greg Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA 2008 M3 Coupe - Alpine/Fox Red/Carbon 2015 M4 pre-ordered 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350
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05-26-2011, 03:06 PM	#2
signes Brigadier General Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Spinnin at 8k Posts: 3,192 iTrader: (3)	Inevitable, but man, so damn depressing... __________________ 08 E90 \| Jet Black / Black \| 6MT Mods: RAC RG63 w/ Pirelli Corsa 255F/285R \| Akrapovic Evo Exhaust \| OEM Blacklines Winter Setup: OEM 18s w/ Nokian Hakkapeliita R 245/40-18

05-26-2011, 04:26 PM	#4
Erhan Colonel Drives: Cooper S Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,461 iTrader: (0)	This was in Top Gear years ago.... or is it more advanced version? Here actually: __________________ 2011 MINI Cooper S previous cars: E92 M3, Z4MC, Z4 Roadster, E36 328 Sedan

05-27-2011, 10:39 AM	#6
NRBRNG Private First Class Drives: 2009 E92 M3, DCT, SG. Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: OREGON, USA Posts: 103 iTrader: (3)	Funny, that's exactly the body language my very first instructor did a few years ago! __________________ SG, M-DCT. KW Clubsports, Akrapovic catless GT4 with BPM tune, half cage, Recaro Profis /Schroth 6 pts, Stoptech ST60/ Cobalt XR2 race pads, Bimmerworld CF backing plates, Apex ARC 8's, Yoko A005 slicks, RKP GT4 Splitter, APR GT250 Wing, BMC filter, BW race F CAB's, Dinan R Toe Links, Mini CS battery. Dry-3200 pounds

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05-26-2011, 03:52 PM	#3
Brosef Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 2011 M Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,508 iTrader: (3)	I think it's more likely that regular drivers will be replaced (to keep public roads safe). long ways away though.

05-26-2011, 05:52 PM	#5
frenchM3dreamer Captain Drives: 08 Mitsu Eclipse Spyder GTP Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 784 iTrader: (0)	i think roads here would be a lot safer if 75% of the drivers were replaced with robots that can actually pay attention to surrounding traffic, change lanes without cutting you off, drive without hitting the brakes every 10 ft because they're looking for the best place to park / eat / crash, and so on... but from a driving-pleasure perspective, pretty sad indeed...