ROBORACE: Series unveils development car

Roborace – organizer of the upcoming first-ever international series for autonomous cars – has unveiled the electric development vehicle that will allow teams to develop software and experience the hardware that will be raced on the Robocar.

Unlike the Robocar, the "DevBot" has a cabin that can be driven by a human or a computer, allowing teams to fully understand how the car responds on a racetrack. It will make its first public appearance during Formula E pre-season testing at Donington on Wednesday.

The DevBot is equipped with the same drivetrain, sensors, computation systems and communication technology as the Robocar, which will be unveiled later this year. The Roborace team has been secretly testing the Roborace hardware and software on airfields and racetracks, culminating in the DevBot recently completing a self-driven lap of Silverstone.

The inaugural Roborace series will take place as a Formula E support category during the 2016-'17 season.