Volkswagen’s Automotive Innovation Laboratory at Stanford

Looks like Sebastian Thrun and his colleagues at Stanford are still on their quest to build autonomous cars after winning DARPA’s Grand Challenge and coming in second place in the Urban Challenge. Their collaboration with German automaker Volkswagen during the two Challenges has resulted in the creation of a new center at Stanford focused on developing the car of tomorrow. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew to San Franscisco to cut the ribbon at the unveiling of the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory (VAIL). Volkswagen are investing over 5 million dollars in this new center for autonomous vehicles.

Several of professor Thrun’s autonomous cars were on display. Junior was showing off its ability to park autonomously like a pro via an iPhone interface. Watch Junior park itself in the video below.

Also on display was the center’s new autonomous Audi TTS (named Shelley) scheduled to drive up Pikes Peak in July. According to AP,

At Pikes Peak, Shelley will climb 4,721 feet up the 14,110-foot mountain on paved and gravel roads as it covers the 12.4-mile race course and its 156 turns at high speeds. The feat has never attempted by an autonomous vehicle.

Nearly 200 cars, trucks and motorcycles are expected to take part in the 88th annual “Race to the Clouds” on June 27, but Shelley will have the road to itself when it attempts the course in September. Once the team hits the start button, Shelley will be making all the driving decisions on its own.

Enjoy a brief introductory video of Shelley below (even though I really hope it successfully navigates to the top of the mountain, I really think driving off the cliff will be far more spectacular and entertaining for all ).

[source]