Company Press Releases

Mechanical Simulation's CarSim To Guide Vehicle Robotic Race Entry

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -CarSim®, Mechanical Simulation Corporation’s vehicle dynamics simulation software, will again be employed in the DARPA Urban Challenge, a robotic vehicle race that will take place Nov. 3 at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif.

Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Mellon University’s Tartan Racing Team is one of 11 teams selected as finalists in the competition. Their self-driving Chevy Tahoe, “Boss,” successfully completed a series of rigorous tests Oct. 26-31 against 34 other teams to qualify for the starting lineup at the November race. The team utilizes CarSim to predict the vehicle’s behavior over a wide range of road conditions and assist it in operating without a driver. CarSim® is Mechanical Simulation’s software package for simulating and animating the dynamic behavior of cars, light trucks and utility vehicles, utilizing driver, ground and aerodynamic inputs.

The Urban Challenge is a competitive rally for autonomous cars during which they are required to navigate, park and deal with traffic on a 60-mile urban course. They must operate without human guidance and rely only on sensors and computers to obey traffic laws, merge into moving traffic, avoid obstacles and negotiate intersections. The Challenge is sponsored by the U.S. military’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Prizes of $2 million, $1 million and $500,000 are offered to the top finishers that complete the course within six hours.

“We’re happy to be participating with the Carnegie Mellon team in the DARPA Challenge for the third year,” said Terence Rhoades, Mechanical Simulation president. “The team has always performed well under these challenging conditions. These competitions challenge us as much as they do the teams to produce vehicles that will respond to road hazards.”

About Mechanical Simulation: Mechanical Simulation Corporation is a technology leader in the development and distribution of advanced software used to simulate vehicle performance under a wide variety of conditions. The company was established in 1996, and from its Ann Arbor, Mich., headquarters provides car and truck simulation packages, training and ongoing support to more than 50 OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, and over 120 universities and government research groups worldwide. For more information, visit www.carsim.com.