Indy Autonomous Challenge Maserati MC20 Sets New Autonomous Speed Record
AI-driver reached 197.7 mph during the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida at the Kennedy Space Center…
Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) and Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s largest scientific-technological university, joined forces with Maserati and 1000 Miglia Experience Florida to carry out the high-tech initiative of setting a new autonomous speed record during the competition’s stop in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The activity was part of MOST–Italy’s National Center for Sustainable Mobility, which aims to drive research, innovation and infrastructure development to create scalable solutions for eco-friendly transportation.
The Indy Autonomous Challenge returned to the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) at the Kennedy Space Center to set the new autonomous driving world record. The LLF facility is one of the world’s longest runways at 15,000 feet (2.8 miles) and the historic location for NASA Space Shuttle landings. Once primarily used for government operations, the LLF has evolved into a hub for aerospace innovation, research, manufacturing and testing.
The 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 197.7 mph with no human driver on board.
This surpasses the previously held absolute record for an autonomous car of 192.8 mph, set by Indy Autonomous Challenge and PoliMOVE at the same location in April 2022 with an IAC AV-21 racecar. The achievement represents a huge leap forward in high-speed autonomous driving development and showcases how the learnings of high-speed autonomous racing can transfer to streetcars, according to a press release.
The Maserati MC20 Coupe of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, driven by the robo-driver from the Politecnico di Milano, previously held the record for the fastest autonomous production car, reaching 177 mph at the Piacenza Military Airport track in November of 2024.
The Goal of Setting the Autonomous Speed Record
“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,” said Paul Mitchell, CEO of Indy Autonomous Challenge and Aidoptation BV. “Doing so with a streetcar is helping transition the learnings of autonomous racing to enable safe, secure, sustainable, high-speed autonomous mobility on highways.”
“The goal of high-speed tests is to evaluate the behavior of robo-drivers in extreme conditions,” explains 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. “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.”
Once the record-breaking test was completed, a second Maserati MC20 Cielo convertible continued its American journey by joining the convoy of the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida. This vehicle from the Politecnico di Milano—already a participant in the 2023 edition of the historical 1000 Miglia race, where it covered approximately 37.3 miles in autonomous mode across Italy—will now travel the roads of the United States.
