CAMPBELL, Calif.—Hyperdrive, a connected car startup focused on helping people become better drivers through gamification, announced today the launch of iOS and Web apps for the upcoming Prius Challenge, presented by Toyota Research Institute (TRI), at Sonoma Raceway on March 3rd. The apps enable competitors to leverage connected car data and build strategies that they’ll run on the track during race day.
Prius Challenge
The Prius Challenge is a unique competition where teams drive identical vehicles hoping to achieve the highest average fuel economy over nine laps. Hyperdrive developed strategy and coaching apps, leveraging its platform, to enable participants to build and test strategies beforehand using data collected from Sonoma Raceway. Then, on race day, participants execute their strategies using their real-time performance data to maximize their fuel economy.
“We’re thrilled to be part of the Prius Challenge, working with Toyota Research Institute to combine Silicon Valley innovation with automotive excellence,” stated Hyperdrive CEO, Jason Wiener. “The platform we’ve created is a new way to use connected car data and apply it to real-world scenarios.”
Powered by real-world connected car data
The idea of connected car apps isn't new. What makes the Prius Challenge unique is that participants have access to existing data and can use it to learn about the track and formulate strategies to optimize their efforts on race day. In December 2016, TRI and Hyperdrive conducted private data capture sessions at Sonoma Raceway. This two-day test netted over 10 million data points (10,582,302 to be exact) covering 16 unique streams of information from the car in real-time. The data not only powers the platform, but has been made available to participants to conduct machine learning and analysis as well as custom algorithmic development.
Building strategies visually
Hyperdrive has developed the “Driver Strategy Editor,” enabling participants to explore the data and compose strategies. Akin to Adobe Premiere or Apple’s Final Cut Pro, the Driver Strategy Editor enables users to drag “clips” of lap data into a timeline to compose their strategies for race day.
When teams hit the track, they will try to execute the perfect race, using their strategies, via iPad apps connected to their Toyota Priuses via Bluetooth. The apps sync vehicle position on the course with real-time diagnostics, showing how the team is performing compared to their planned strategy.
About Toyota Research Institute
Toyota Research Institute is a wholly owned Research & Development subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America. Created in November 2015, it received an initial investment of $1 billion over five years with the initial mandate to focus on artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, robotics and materials science. For more information about TRI, visit http://tri.global.
About Hyperdrive
Founded in 2016 and based in the Silicon Valley, Hyperdrive is a connected car startup focused on helping people become better drivers through gamification. The company’s first consumer application will launch on iOS in early 2017. For more information, visit http://hyperdrive.me.
Contacts
Hyperdrive
Erin Walsh, 415-786-2398
erin@hyperdrive.me
