Teesside University students creating AI controlled self-driving car
Students from Teesside University are helping to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) controlled self-driving car, with testing sessions already taking place on campus.
Led by Dr Alexander Ellin in the University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, the team of students and staff are creating the AI controlled car as a test vehicle to help students compete in the renowned IMECHE engineering competition Formula Student.
The Formula Student competition, held each year at legendary motor racing circuit Silverstone, is Europe's best known educational engineering competition, with over 100 university teams taking part every year.
A special test circuit was created on the University’s campus, using cones to mark out the track, to enable the team to collect the required data, and introduce the project to the University community.
The Formula Student artificial intelligence competition challenges students to develop and embody the algorithms required to enable an autonomous vehicle to navigate a short track laid out with coloured traffic cones. The layout of the competition circuit is unknown, so the first thing the car must do is map positions of those cones while slowly driving between them. Having done this, it must then speed up and drive round the track as quickly as it can.
Dr Ellin said: “Before the car can attempt to map the position of the cones, it must learn to recognise what - along with all the things it can see with its camera - are traffic cones, and which are not. This is achieved through a process called Machine Learning, in which the computer is shown a vast number of images and told where, in those images, the cones are.
“The main aim of the trial which was set up on campus has been to record the position of the cones marking out the track with the car’s camera, to enable the project team to then use these recordings in the machine learning process. The computer must also learn to recognise people, for example, which the car cannot run over and the road surface which it can.
“Although we had a student driving the car during this test session, it is hoped that within a year or so, we should be able to remove the driver and get the car to do it by itself, just by pressing a single button.”
Dr Ellin added: “We are aiming to compete in the Formula Student competition next year. It is viewed by engineers throughout the country, and the automotive industry in particular, as the standard for engineering graduates, helping them to transition from university to the workplace.
“Taking part enables students to gain real-world engineering experience, while also develop skills in areas such as business planning and project management.”
Among students taking part is MSc Aerospace Engineering student Oluwafemi Akhigbe, 28, who is originally from Nigeria. He said: “I have always had a passion for cars and working on cars, so felt this was a good way to do something extra to get more industry experience.
“The aerospace sector is very competitive, so this is a really good way to further develop my skills and knowledge. It’s been a journey so far and it’s been great when we see results after putting in resources and research.”
Kenny Omoworare, 27, also from Nigeria and completing the MSc Aerospace Engineering, added: “I first become involved in the project as a way of getting out of my comfort zone. It’s a real joy when we see results from the germ of an idea as part of our work on the project.
“I used a bit of AI in my undergraduate degree, but this is far more encompassing. We are starting from scratch, with raw ideas. One of the first tasks involved switching from a combustion engine to an electric engine.”
Branon Andrews, 22, from Hartlepool, is completing the BEng Aerospace Engineering. Branon said: “I grew up in a family which loved motorsports, so it has been great to be involved in this project.
“I jumped at the chance to be able to write my dissertation based on the project and I’m involved in writing the code which will eventually help the car to drive around the track.”
“Involvement in Formula Student is beneficial as it’s a huge, international competition which can eventually lead into a career in Formula One. Taking part in an extra-curricular activity like this, where you are doing something for real, also looks great on your CV.”
Dr Ellin added: “We currently meet weekly to work on the project and, whilst the activity is principally aimed at engineering and computing students, there is no reason why other university students could not benefit from the experience.
“This could be of interest to students studying media, journalism or filmmaking, project management, business or advertising, as any sponsorship they could raise would be welcomed, to those involved in graphic design or textiles, as we would welcome input on developing the corporate image of both the car and the team. Any Teesside University student can benefit from taking part. It is only by looking at things outside our comfort zones that we become truly independent learners.”
Students from across the University wanting to get involved in the project can contact Dr Ellin on a.ellin@tees.ac.uk, or simply turn up at the weekly project group meeting at 1.15pm on Wednesdays, at IC0.47 Stephenson Building (IC0.47).
ENDS
Image caption, pictured in the car is student Oluwafemi Akhigbe, with (left to right) student Kenny Omoworare, and academics from the School of Computing, Engineering and Digital Technologies, Alex Ellin, Chris Ogwumike and Hayder Hammood.
Michelle Ruane
Communications Co-ordinator
m.ruane@tees.ac.uk