1000 Miglia Autonomous Drive

1000 MAD – 1000 Miglia 2024

The 1000 Miglia Autonomous Drive (1000 MAD) project is a pioneering initiative for the experimentation of autonomous driving, promoted by the Polytechnic University of Milan in collaboration with 1000 Miglia s.r.l., part of the Centro Nazionale per la Mobilità Sostenibile (MOST) (National Centre for Sustainable Mobility) and with the patronage of Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. The main objective of the project is to test an autonomous driving algorithm on public roads, ensuring high safety and interaction with road users. The system is capable of operating in a wide range of road contexts, including urban centres, non-urban areas and motorways, interacting with other road users and recognizing the presence of pedestrians and other obstacles on the road.

After the success achieved during the 1000 Miglia in 2023, the Polytechnic University of Milan will take part once again in the historic car race in the 2024 edition, from 11 to 15 June, presenting renewed and advanced technology. Over the last year, numerous tests on urban roads in some Italian cities and on motorway sections have allowed the autonomous driving system to be perfected, reducing the need for intervention by the supervisor in the vehicle.

For the 2024 edition, the Polytechnic University of Milan will introduce several new features. The most significant is the new Maserati GranCabrio Folgore, the first electric model from the Modena-based car manufacturer, with a new design created for the event. This car will be previewed during the official unveiling, scheduled for Sunday 9 June, during the 1000 Miglia Village in Brescia. Furthermore, the Polytechnic University of Milan will present new team wear, designed specifically for the occasion and a brand new “avatar”, which represents the Artificial Intelligence that drives the vehicle, symbolizing innovation and the future of mobility.

Matteo Marzotto has been confirmed. For the second year, he will be the co-driver and supervisor on the new Maserati.

A further milestone is the significant expansion of the authorized route for road testing, which now extends for over 600-1000 km. This result was possible thanks to the collaboration with various managing bodies of Italian road infrastructures, demonstrating the importance of cooperation between academic institutions, companies and public administrations. The choice to participate in the 1000 Miglia 2024 was motivated by the variety of road scenarios faced and the extension of the “autonomous” route that could be travelled during the race, which offered an ideal testing ground for the system.

The 1000 Miglia Autonomous Drive project not only represents a step forward in autonomous vehicle technology, but also an opportunity to demonstrate the potential of these technologies in real and complex contexts. By proceeding along this path, the Polytechnic University of Milan and its partners position themselves at the forefront in the field of sustainable and intelligent mobility, opening up new possibilities for the future of transport.