University of Hertfordshire celebrates milestone at international autonomous vehicle competition
Students built a full self-driving vehicle and tested it on Silverstone's legendary track
Engineering students from the University of Hertfordshire are being praised for their achievements at this year’s Formula Student and Formula Student Autonomous competitions, held at the iconic Silverstone Circuit.
The event, which draws university teams from around the globe, challenges students to design, build, and race their own vehicles—both driver-controlled and autonomous.
It’s the third consecutive year that the University has competed in the autonomous category, but 2025 marked a turning point.
“This year at the University of Hertfordshire, for the first time ever, we managed to gain points in the dynamic part of the competition,” said Dr Robert Rayner, Senior Lecturer in Automotive Engineering. “We came top six in the dynamic competition, which was really exciting and a real game changer for us.”
The 'dynamic' events involve the vehicle operating under its own control, navigating complex tracks and obstacle courses with no driver intervention. “We were able to drive around and complete laps of the twisty track under full autonomous control, and we didn’t bump into too many cones,” Dr Rayner added.
These competitions don’t just test technical skill—they offer a high-pressure, real-world environment in which students develop teamwork and problem-solving abilities. “They've been through this almost like trial by fire, writing the code, buying the sensors, running the team,” Dr Rayner said. “The transformation in these students takes my breath away every single time.”
Dr Rayner believes strongly in the broader importance of preparing students for an automotive future that is rapidly embracing autonomy. “Now we’re talking about computerised machines with lots of electronic components which need to be brought together and to synchronise with the software,” he explained. “We need different skills - computer scientists, mechatronics students, electronic students.”
That collaborative approach is further strengthened by the university’s new Spectra building, designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary teamwork.
Beyond the classroom, the event at Silverstone provides key opportunities for networking and industry engagement.
These industry links extend into the broader region, often referred to as the UK's "Motorsport Valley," home to many of the world’s leading automotive and Formula One companies. “We have at least one graduate student in every single Formula One team,” Dr Rayner said. “We are very well linked and very well placed and have a very good reputation when it comes to the motorsport world.”
The autonomous vehicle race is gaining momentum, as the world, and the UK in particular, slowly moves towards a future of self-driving vehicles.
In 2024, the Autonomous Vehicles Act was passed - as a significant step forward.
“We might actually be the first country in the world to have any legislation around autonomous and connected autonomous vehicles,” Dr Rayner explained. “It readies us in a legal sense to have autonomous vehicles legally and safely operating on our roads.”
The university is hoping to build on these skills and experience, both within and outside of the competition's remit.