Eco-Runner Team Delft presented their latest, extremely fuel-efficient, hydrogen-powered car at The Green Village in Delft last Thursday. The aim: to build a car that can drive 5,000 km on the equivalent of a litre of petrol. Over the past year, the team has changed tack and developed a 'smart car'. This year, the driving strategies are determined, among other things, by a pioneering and self-learning neural network, which allows the team to use the car in the most efficient way.
Now that the Eco-Runner Team has once again built an efficient vehicle, the driver must also drive in such a way that the car is used in the most efficient way. Therefore, this year the focus was chosen to make the car 'smart'. This allows the car itself to give instructions to the driver on what speed/steering angle/braking force is needed to drive as efficiently as possible. All because of the self-learning software developed.
Self-learning software
Using the latest developments in computer science, a so-called 'Neural Network' programme has been developed. This Neural Network sees connections between road and route conditions and the speed/steering angle/brake force that is best in these conditions to drive as economically as possible. A large number of simulations were carried out beforehand in which all these conditions were calculated. When the results are fed into the Neural Network, it starts to understand, as it were, the influence of all the conditions. A trained Network can give the right driving instructions within 0.2 seconds, with 99% accuracy. This allows optimal driving at any point in the race, regardless of unforeseen circumstances. The neural network is designed to mimic the processes in a brain. It actually works the same as a small child who sees a cat in a picture for the first time, and then later can recognise the never-before-seen cat as such. Similarly, the Network in the new Ecorunner can learn by itself to see connections and apply them in a new situation.
Vision
The team's vision is to show the world, that the limits of vehicle efficiency are far from being reached. "By using only sustainable fuels and also using them in a smart way, great strides can still be made in reducing CO2 emissions from the mobility sector," said Joël Croese team manager of Eco-Runner Team Delft.
Shell Eco-marathon
The team participates in the Shell Eco-marathon every year where they can prove themselves against fellow students from all over Europe. The Shell Eco-marathon is organised every year by Shell to give students the opportunity to develop the most fuel-efficient car possible. This event is organised on several continents, the competition for teams within Europe will take place in London from 5-8 July. Every year, 200 student teams come together to compete for the most efficient vehicle. The aim is to use as little fuel as possible on the course, which in the case of the Ecorunner is hydrogen.
Source: Eco-Runner
