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2026 Self-Driving Car Student Competition, Powered by MathWorks and Quanser

Saint-Malo, France

Where Intelligence Meets Mobility

 

The Self-Driving Car Student Competition, powered by MathWorks and Quanser, invites the brightest student minds from around the globe to step into the future — to design, develop, and demonstrate their own self-driving intelligence using MATLAB® and Simulink®. 

5 Simple Steps to get involved: 

  • Collaborate with your peers 
  • Register to participate in the challenge 
  • Request access to MATLAB and Simulink 
  • Install the QLab Virtual QCar add-on 
  • Simulate and Develop — access the GitHub repository and embark on your QCar development journey 

 

 

 

Autonomous Urban Adventure

This competition unfolds in two exciting stages — a virtual challenge and a live showdown — as teams take on the Autonomous Urban Adventure: 

  • Navigate the city to complete pick-up and drop-off requests. 
  • Make intelligent decisions to follow road rules, optimize routes, and maximize your “earnings.” 
  • Adapt in real time as the clock ticks down and your AI competes to climb the leaderboard. 

February 27, 2026: Registration Closed

March 31, 2026: Video Submission Deadline

May.11 – May 14, 2026: In-person Competition

 

  • 1Stage 0: Registration

    Team registration has opened, until February 27, 2026

  • 2Stage 1: Virtual Competition

    Using Quanser QLabs Virtual QCar, teams will develop their control and perception algorithms entirely in MATLAB and Simulink, leveraging all the necessary toolboxes. 

    Teams will submit a demonstration video and a technical summary report detailing their design, methodology, and performance. 

    A panel of experts from MathWorks and Quanser will evaluate submissions to determine the top-performing teams. 

  • 3Stage 2: On-Site Finals at CPS-IoT Week 2026

    The top teams will earn their spot in Saint-Malo, France, for an unforgettable 4–day live competition during CPS-IoT Week 2026. They’ll bring their virtual designs to life on the physical Quanser QCar 2 platform. 

    For details, please visit the GitHub link in the Resources & Contact Tab. 

First Place:  

  • $1000  
  • 1-Year License for MATLAB/Simulink and QLabs
  • Certificates 

Second and third Place:  

  • 1-Year License for MATLAB/Simulink and QLabs
  • Certificates 

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