A new robot race car series is set to get underway in 2017.

In 2017, a new series of robot race cars will begin.

Roborace Ltd.

The planned "Roborace" series is scheduled to be contested during Formula E championship weekends. Organizers have commissioned Daniel Simon -- famous for his work on movies like
Daniel Simon

For now, this prototype, called the DevBot #1, is trialing the autonomous technology. <br />Watch a video of it in action here</span> </div> <figcaption class=Matt Knight/CNN

The battery-powered prototype can reach speeds of 215 mph (350 kph), according to Roborace.

According to Roborace, the prototype powered by batteries is capable of reaching speeds of 215 mph (350 kph).

Matt Knight/CNN

The "Roborace" series is scheduled to start in 2017 and will see 10 autonomous cars all competing on the same track.

The “Roborace” competition is set to begin in 2017, featuring 10 self-driving cars racing on one track.

Roborace Ltd.

The car successfully navigated the track at Formula E's Marrakech ePrix in November. The all-electric race series will host robot races during ePrix weekends.

In November, the vehicle effectively maneuvered through the course at Marrakech ePrix, part of Formula E’s all-electric race series. During ePrix weekends, the series will also feature races with robots.

Matt Knight/CNN

The car has been developed by a small team of engineers and computer scientists. "With this car we have several kinds of sensors," Sergey Malygin, Roborace's Artificial Intelligence developer, told CNN. "First of all there are lasers measurements -- light-based, so we have information about the 3D objects around us."

A team of engineers and computer scientists collaborated to create the car. Sergey Malygin, the Artificial Intelligence developer for Roborace, explained to CNN that the car is equipped with various sensors, including light-based lasers, to gather information about 3D objects in its surroundings.

Matt Knight/CNN

"Also we have cameras, radars, ultrasonics to get the information about other vehicles and base stations," Malygin continues. "We also have precise positioning systems and optical speed sensors."

“Additionally, we utilize cameras, radars, and ultrasonic technology to gather data on surrounding vehicles and base stations,” Malygin adds. “We also have accurate positioning systems and optical speed sensors.”

Matt Knight/CNN

"To get this information inside (the car), process it and get a valuable understanding of what is happening around us that's something that needs a lot of computing power," Malygin explains. The raw data is then deciphered by algorithms which tells the car where the walls are and where other cars are on the road.

According to Malygin, obtaining and interpreting data inside the car requires significant computational capabilities in order to gain valuable insights about our surroundings. The data is then decoded by algorithms, providing the car with knowledge of the location of walls and other vehicles on the road.

Matt Knight/CNN

Roborace engineer, Matas Simonavicius, says each wheel is individually powered, providing more stability and safety. <br />"One motor drives one wheel," Simonavicius told CNN. "This way you can do torque vectoring -- you can control the power to wheels much better, how it drives and the performance it gives out. It's more advanced than the conventional stability control ABS."

Matas Simonavicius, an engineer for Roborace, states that each wheel is powered separately, resulting in increased stability and safety.

According to Simonavicius, each wheel is powered by a single motor, allowing for torque vectoring. This advanced technique provides better control over the power distribution and performance of the vehicle compared to traditional stability control and ABS systems.

Matt Knight/CNN

But are driverless cars a good idea? <br />"I think, yes," Simonavicius says. "What's the biggest cause of accidents at the moment? It's human error."

Is the concept of driverless cars beneficial?

According to Simonavicius, the main reason for accidents currently is human error.

Matt Knight/CNN

"That's why we want to bring this car into a controlled environment where you cannot hurt any people and you can prove that it works," Simonavicius argues.<br />

Simonavicius argues that bringing this car into a controlled environment is necessary to prevent any harm to people and to demonstrate its functionality.

Matt Knight/CNN

"We're trying to change people's perspective of it. So they will see it at races and see it's safe and does all these cool things."

“We aim to shift individuals’ perceptions of it, allowing them to witness its use at races and recognize its safety and impressive capabilities.”

Roborace Ltd

The robot race cars are ready to go!