Electrical Engineering
Tagline
Transcend Performance, Beyond Excellence
Year
2026
Sponsor
Naples Design Lab


This project focuses on the development of a high-performance autonomous 1/10th-scale race car for the F1TENTH competition. The vehicle is designed to reach speeds up to 30 mph while maintaining stability through a lightweight and low center-of-gravity design. It uses LiDAR and encoder feedback for real-time perception and state estimation, supported by a custom powertrain with hub motors and an embedded system architecture. The autonomy stack progresses from a baseline Follow-the-Gap (FTG) algorithm to a Model Predictive Path Integral (MPPI) controller with simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), enabling both reliable obstacle avoidance and predictive, high-speed navigation. MPPI allows the system to evaluate control actions over a short horizon while accounting for vehicle dynamics and environmental constraints. With a high-frequency control loop and low-latency communication over a CAN-based network, the system is designed for fast and responsive operation. This project demonstrates the integration of advanced control, sensing, and mechanical design to achieve robust autonomous racing performance.


 

Students

Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering