What do you get if you combine slot cars with video games and throw in a touch of artificial intelligence for good measure? Well, previously it would just be an awful slot car video game, but thanks to some very clever people and a Hollywood movie car designer, we now get an awesome real world racing game!
Anki Drive is a slot car racing game (except without the slots) that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning so that the cars actually learn how to beat each other on the track. The set is made up of three components; a track mat, a car and an iOS app. The mat contains a special positional code that tells the car where it is in relation to the track and other vehicles, while each car has a small camera reads and translate the information, sending it via Bluetooth to the iOS app.
The iOS app allows the player to steer the vehicle and fire weapons, but also lets you build a “character” for each car. With the information gathered from the track and the position of the opponents, the cars are able to determine, usually within a few thousandths of a second, whether to pass, block or even nudge their opponents. But These are not preprogrammed movements – this is the AI determining the parameters and then thinking on its own!
Available from October 23rd through the Apple Store and from Anki’s website (in the USA – no word on local availability) for US$199, the basic set comes with the mat and two cars, with the app available to download from iTunes. Two more cars are available for purchase at US$69 each, with each featuring different characteristics that can be upgraded using rewards won during racing. These upgrades are permanent and applied to the car when purchased from inside the app.
