Indy Autonomous Challenge at CES 2021

Energy Systems Network (ESN) and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), organizers of the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), have finalized plans for CES 2021, including a press conference on January 11, to unveil the official racecar that will be autonomously driven by scores of university teams in the world's first high-speed head-to-head autonomous race at the IMS, the Racing Capital of the World on October 23, 2021.

Press Conference Participants:

• Paul Mitchell, president & CEO, ESN
• Mark Miles, president & CEO, Penske Entertainment Corp.
• Doug Boles, president, IMS
• Stefano dePonti, CEO and general manager, Dallara USA
• Sebastian Thrun, CEO, Kitty Hawk; chairman; founder, Udacity; winner of the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge

January 12 and 13 Spotlight Sessions

The IAC will host two 30-minute Spotlight Sessions (live).

• Autonomous Technology & Commercialization, hosted by ESN.
• Innovative Technology in Motorsports, hosted by IMS and presented by Bridgestone. IMS has been a catalyst and proving ground for motorsport and transportation innovation since its inception in 1909.

The IAC builds on the successful impact of the DARPA Grand Challenge, which led to expanded R&D in the field of autonomous vehicles. Thirty teams have registered, comprising more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students, PhDs and mentors who excel in AI software, representing universities in 11 countries on four continents and 14 U.S. states.

About the Indy Autonomous Challenge

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), organized by Energy Systems Network and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is a $1.5 million prize competition among universities to program modified Dallara IL-15 racecars and compete in the world's first autonomous head-to-head race around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway on October 23, 2021. Racing at speeds of up to 200 mph, the primary goal of the IAC is to advance technology that can speed the commercialization of fully autonomous vehicles and deployments of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These enhancements will lead to increased safety and performance in all modes of racing and commercial transportation. In addition, the competition is a platform for students to excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

IAC sponsors include: ADLINK, Ansys, Aptiv, AutonomouStuff, Bridgestone, CU-ICAR, Dallara, Indiana Economic Development Corp., Microsoft, New Eagle, PWR, RTI, Schaeffler, and Valvoline.

About CES® - The Global Stage for Innovation

CES® is the most influential tech event in the world, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, CES features every aspect of the tech sector. To learn more: https://www.ces.tech.

Press Kits will be distributed January 11, 2021, posted on the IAC/CES microsite and IAC website. Follow us on Twitter (#IAC2021) and LinkedIn.

Journalists participating in all CES sessions must register by January 8, 2021 as media with CES 2021: https://ces2021.eventcore.com/.