IU-Luddy Autonomous Racing Team
Description
The IU-Luddy Autonomous Racing Team competes in the Indy Autonomous Challenge, developing advanced AI software for full-scale autonomous racecars. Our vehicle, named IU-Luddy, reaches speeds of over 150 mph on tracks such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Led by PhD students, the project provides undergraduates with hands-on experience solving complex, real-world problems in high-speed autonomy.
Undergraduates will work on well-defined modules, including simulation improvements, data-analysis tool development, and support for core autonomy functions—perception, localization, decision-making, behavior prediction, and control.
All tasks are designed and mentored by faculty and PhD team members. Additional opportunities exist for students interested in marketing and sponsor outreach. Through this project, students develop industry-relevant skills in ROS 2, C++, Python, and Linux, while gaining practical experience in vehicle dynamics, AI, control theory, data analytics, and collaborative software engineering.
Goals and Learning Outcomes
- Autonomy Stack Fundamental: Students will gain a conceptual and practical understanding of the four pillars of autonomous racing software:
- Perception: Utilizing LiDAR, cameras, and radar to detect track boundaries, identify static obstacles, and track dynamic agents (opponent cars) to build a real-time understanding of the environment.
- State Estimation: The process of fusing data from sensors (GPS, IMU, wheel encoders) to accurately determine the vehicle's position, velocity, and orientation (pose) on the track at high frequencies.
- Decision-Making and Planning: The decision-making layer responsible for generating optimal racing lines and local trajectories that navigate the track at speed while avoiding collisions and adhering to physical constraints.
- Vehicle Dynamics and Control: Algorithms (such as PID or Model Predictive Control) that convert the planned trajectory into precise actuator commands (steering, throttle, and braking) to keep the vehicle on its path.