Driving robots perform NASCAR crash test on track

The test vehicle was driven at high speed to a pre-programmed course by driving robots into the banking wall at Talladega Superspeedway motorsports complex in Alabama.

The aim was to test the safety of the vehicle and the impact on the driver in this type of accident, which occurs often in the series. The race car was fitted with sensors and a crash test dummy to create data for NASCAR’s crash simulation validation.

In a statement, Craig Hoyt, AB Dynamics business development manager said: “The challenge was trying to get this extremely complex machine to do a very precise test without a human driver piloting the car.

“A major hurdle NASCAR faced was finding a crash test facility which could conduct such high-speed crash testing. AB Dynamics robots allowed NASCAR to use a fully running race car and conduct the test at a real race track, at real race speeds.”

The test required the car to drive at 130mph to a precise impact point into the SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) barrier, colliding with it at a 24 degree angle.