VectorNav Technologies, a provider of inertial navigation solutions, announced that it has been chosen to be the exclusive supplier of GNSS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) for the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC). VectorNav will supply IAC with its VN-310 Dual Antenna GNSS/INS with Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning for integration in the Dallara AV-21 racecars, enabling precision navigation and attitude estimation.
Conceived in 2019, the Indy Autonomous Challenge aims to advance technology that can speed the commercialization of fully autonomous vehicles and deployments of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). By tapping into collegiate engineering programs, the challenge seeks to explore the feasibility of large-scale unmanned vehicle racing, while offering a platform for students to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and inspire the next generation of innovators.
VectorNav is providing each of the nine IAC teams with its VN-310 Dual Antenna GNSS/INS. Comprised of 3-axis gyroscopes, accelerometers and magnetometers, as well as two GNSS receivers that enable GNSS-Compassing, the VN-310 provides milliradian-level heading, pitch and roll estimates at rates of up to 400 Hz. The VN-310 GNSS receivers are capable of RTK positioning, enabling position estimation down to centimeter-level accuracy.
"We are thrilled to be a part of the IAC competition," said Jeremy Davis, VectorNav Director of Engineering. "IAC's work is pushing the boundaries of autonomous vehicle capability and we are confident our inertial navigation systems will contribute to that mission while providing education and entertainment to fans worldwide."
"The IAC is extremely excited to work with VectorNav as the GNSS/INS provider for the AV-21," said Paul Mitchell, President, Indy Autonomous Challenge. "Localization and state estimation are the foundation of each team's autonomy software. With VectorNav's tactical-grade GNSS/INS systems, teams can operate at high speeds while performing complex maneuvers. Additionally, VectorNav's technical support has been top-notch from initial integration to on-track usage of their systems."
The IAC will host its next round of competition on November 11, 2022 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. VectorNav Technologies will be onsite to provide technical support to each of the IAC teams.
Click here to learn more about the Indy Autonomous Challenge.
Click here to learn more about the GNSS/INS navigation system.
