Press Releases
Critical Group and MIT Portugal sign agreement to launch competition to build autonomous vehicle
7 Jul 2009
Lisbon, July 7th, 2009: The goal is to create and build an autonomous electrical vehicle, with no need for a driver. This is the challenge launched by the Critical Group, in partnership with the MIT Portugal Program, targeting research teams in transportation and energy systems, as well as in engineering design and advanced manufacturing.
The "Critical Challenge" agreement is signed Tuesday, the 7th of July, at CCB, during the 1st Annual Conference "Engineering for better jobs", organized by MIT Portugal Program.
The "Critical Challenge" will challenge teams to develop an efficient electrical vehicle able to transport up to nine passengers. For the competition, the vehicles must complete two journeys of at least 2 km each, one at daylight, the other at nightlight conditions, over an urban route, using as less energy as possible, at maximum speed.
The competition will run for two and half years and the applications process will be held in November. The teams must have at least two elements and will be supported in their projects at both scientific and financial levels.
The budget available for prizes, prototype and equipment is close to 90.000 euros, and the winning team will receive a final prize of 40.000 euros.
Through this "Challenge" the Critical Group, alongside with MIT-Portugal, aims to promote R&D with multidisciplinary teams.
About "Critical Challenge"
The "Critical Challenge" will be divided in three phases and the initiative will be managed by a Steering Committee of Critical and MIT-PT Program. The first phase of the competition is to develop the technology approach, the global architecture and the functional specifications of the projects. The second phase will be a public competition with a virtual vehicle, using a common simulator tool. In the third phase there will be a final demonstration with the vehicle in an urban environment and the selection of the winning team. The disclosure of the competition rules will occur in September.
