Toyota Research Institute (TRI) and Stanford Engineering said they have successfully performed tandem drifts with two self-driving Toyota GR Supras.

For nearly seven years, both teams have collaborated on research to make driving safer. But what does autonomous tandem drifting has to do with safety?

According to TRI, by adding a second car drifting in tandem, the teams have now more closely simulated dynamic conditions where cars must respond quickly to other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Both cars were programmed to perform tandem drifting using the latest tools in AI. Algorithms on the lead car were developed at TRI, while Stanford engineers developed those on the chase car.

TRI focused on developing robust and stable control mechanisms for the lead car, allowing it to make repeatable, safe lead runs.

Meanwhile, the AI models and algorithms developed by Stanford enabled the chase car to adapt dynamically to the motion of the lead car so that it can drift alongside without colliding.

Both cars were modified by GReddy and Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and built to the same specifications used in Formula Drift competitions to help the teams collect data with expert drivers in a controlled environment.

Both are equipped with computers and sensors that allow them to control their steering, throttle, and brakes while also sensing their motion. The cars share a dedicated WiFi network that allows them to communicate in real time by exchanging information such as their relative positions and planned trajectories.

To achieve autonomous tandem drifting, the vehicles must continually plan their steering, throttle, and brake commands and the trajectory they intend to follow using a technique called Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC).