Driverless Autocross Event Description – Formula SAE Driverless

5.2.2026

EVENT CAPTAINS: Nick Hills
VENUE: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, MI, USA
ON-SITE LOCATIONS: Practice Area – Back Straight
TRACK LENGTH: Approx.200-500m

The Event:
The Driverless Autocross event is designed to test the car’s handling qualities, perception, planning, and controls. The event permits 4 runs per car. A run is composed of one lap of the course. The fastest of the runs completed, including penalties, will be used to calculate the team score. Teams are awarded 25 points for starting at least a single run. Teams are awarded 25 points for completing one or more run. Points are awarded based on the team’s performance, as calculated using the team’s placement among the other Driverless Autocross Runs from other teams. The final Driverless Autocross score for a team is the sum total of starting points, completion points, and performance points. A Course Walk is done at a specified time before the Driverless Autocross event.

Penalties:

  1. A 2-second penalty for each cone knocked down or out of position (indicated by a chalk square at the base of the cone).
  2. A 10-second penalty for going off course and not re-entering at a point prior to the missed gate. Missing one or more gates of a given slalom counts as a single off-course penalty.
  3. A DQ/DNF for an unsafe stop, including any stop as a result of a remote e-stop trigger or any other Emergency Braking System maneuver.

All cones in the dynamic area can be scored as penalties. This includes cones before the start line and after the finish line.

Procedure:

  1. Teams will stage in a queue where they will be directed to enable the Race Mode on their Remote Stop System (RSS) by the event workers.
  2. Cars may be pushed to the Start Line when directed to do so by an Event Worker. An Event Worker will stage the car on the Start Line before the EBS brakes are activated. The car will be placed with the front wheels 6m back from the start line.
  3. The DSO and event worker will start the procedure of getting the car in the Ready State. In this state the Driverless System Status Indicator (DSSI) is solid Yellow.
  4. The car must transition to the Driving state (DSSI is flashing yellow) and start a DV Autocross Run within 30 seconds of the DSO pressing the GO button on the RSS. If the vehicle does not start moving within 30 seconds, the run is a DNF. Timing starts when any part of the car crosses the Start Line. The DV Autocross Run is counted (one of the permitted DV Autocross Runs) when any part of the car crosses the Start Line. Timing ends when any part of the car crosses the Finish Line, and the Finish Line light is triggered.
  5. After crossing the Finish Line, the car must apply the brakes and stop in a controlled manner in the designated stop area, up to 30m after the finish line. Stopping outside the stop area for more than 30 seconds, or any E-stop event will count as a DNF.
  6. The car must transition to the Finished state (DSSI is solid blue) within 30 seconds of stopping in the designated stop area for the run to count, otherwise it is a DNF.
  7. At the direction of the Official, the DSO will be instructed to press the E-stop after the run is confirmed.
  8. Once the E-stop has been pressed, the DSO must return the race key to the appropriate event worker, obtain the team’s training e-key, and proceed to collect their car.