Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 63

“During my active racing career, I never dreamed that we
would so soon reach the point where I wouldn’t be steering the
Audi around the course but the Audi would be doing it itself,”
says Biela.
The former racing driver was all the more fascinated after a
piloted driving test run – at top speed – around the track at the
Motorsport Arena in Oschersleben. “Honestly ? I am complete-
ly blown away. I normally sit on the left and have everything
under control. Today I started out in the passenger seat. The
system assumed complete control of the car. Accelerated.
Braked. There was no way for me to do anything. And that at
 kilometers per hour,” says Biela. And he admits : “It is to-
tally crazy to just sit there and feel how the car accelerates. The
wall is coming closer and closer, but there isn’t anything you
can do. ‘Stay cool,’ I was thinking the whole time. ‘The technicians
know what they are doing.’ And the car is going to hit the
brakes any second now ... there ! But really at the very last
moment. Totally insane. And it takes quite a bit to rattle
me. I had just recovered from the fi rst shock when the car once
again accelerated at full speed.” Audi engineer and project
manager Peter Bergmiller is convinced that Bobby can match
the performance of pros like Biela in more than just accelera-
tion. “In terms of speed, precision and vehicle control, we
have the Audi RS  piloted driving concept on a level with the
best racing drivers.” The proof is to be delivered in Oschers-
leben : Racing legend Frank Biela will compete against racing
innovator Bobby.
Still impressed by Bobby’s performance, Biela gets into a com-
parable Audi RS  Sportback, but this time on the left side, be-
hind the steering wheel. Now it’s up to him to perform at his
best. He slams down the pedal and accelerates to the absolute
limit. At the very last moment, he brakes, takes the optimal
line through the corner, and accelerates full speed down the
straights. The car gets a little loose in the third corner, though,
and deviates from the racing line by about a meter. Despite his
quick reaction, valuable time is lost before he can countersteer.
The professional racer now needs to make several corrections
before the  kW ( hp) Sportback is back on the racing line.
“Bobby, on the other hand, detects every motion of the car
within milliseconds and can immediately determine the precise
magnitude of the reaction required,” explains Bergmiller. “The
systems generally regain control of the car within . meters
of lateral displacement and bring it back onto the racing line
without further corrections.” The technology platform also has
the advantage when it comes to moving from the accelerator
to the brake pedal before a corner : Biela’s average reaction time
is right around  milliseconds ; Bobby only needs  milli-
seconds, or / of the time.
412 kW (560 h ) out ut
Motorsport Arena Oschersleben
PHOTOS : Bernhard Huber, AUDI AG
Biela at the limit :
hunting for every second
in the Audi RS 7 Sportback.
START/FINISH
Fuel consumption and emission figures at the end of the Annual Report