At one point, Autonomous Power Racing Executive Director Akin Shoyoye says in his TEDxNavesink talk, he didn’t even like the idea of self-driving cars.

Today, he’s passionate about creating autonomous vehicles–and teaching those skills to others.

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Akin is now the co-founder of Drive AI, a Bay Area-based community of engineers and scientists.  Their goal: to develop the largest open data system to help creators develop cutting-edge technology, which they can use to create self-driving vehicles.

Meanwhile, Autonomous Power Racing is a nonprofit racing league.  Its mentor-led workshops are designed to get students working on an exciting engineering project.  As they build their own self-racing cars, participants develop their skills in math and engineering.   Best of all, they’re seeing how these subjects relate to their own world.   (And getting to race the cars they’ve built is pretty cool, too!)

As Maker Faire Bay Area approaches, Akin is scheduled to teach a brand-new workshop, during the pre-Maker Faire “Week of Learning”.  He’ll be offering Autonomous Power Racing’s inaugural “Build an Autonomous R/C Car with Raspberry Pi” workshop.  This upcoming Saturday morning, May 12th, he’ll show students, from ages “14 to 80”, how to create their own raceworthy self-driving vehicles!

Teams of up to five students can enroll.   Materials are provided, and each team gets to keep the car and continue learning after the workshop ends at 3:00 that afternoon.

Meanwhile, if you can’t attend the workshop this weekend, nonprofit Autonomous Power Racing has future additional classes in the works.  In addition, if you have a technical background and would like to volunteer for a few hours on a Saturday or after school, Akin says they’re actively looking for mentors, as they continue to grow!   Mentors, he says, will teach students the basics of creating the vehicles, and can volunteer on a one-time basis or consistently.  You’ll find contact information at the bottom of their event page.

Akin talked about his background, shared the story of creating Autonomous Power Racing and offered a preview of his upcoming workshop.

On this edition of Over Coffee®, you’ll hear:

• How a favorite skill Akin learned, during his growing-up years, now stands him in good stead, for engineering autonomous vehicles;

• How he first became interested in creating self-driving vehicles and autonomous racing;

• The essential elements for success which Akin experienced during the creation of Drive AI;

• How Drive AI creates a self-driving car’s “brain”;

• The story of the Autonomous Power Racing league;

• How the “Donkey Car” workshops help students apply what they learn to their own environments;

• What students will experience, in the “Donkey Car” workshop;

• Why the self-driving racer is called the “Donkey Car”;

• How you can support nonprofit Autonomous Power Racing, if you have technical skills and time to assist with future workshops;

• One of the best mistakes a student can make that will teach him or her about building autonomous vehicles;

• One of the fundamental lessons students will learn, about what makes an effective self-driving car;

• One of the best lessons Akin has taken away from teaching his workshops;

• The upcoming events Autonomous Power Racing is planning, after “Week of Learning” and their initial workshop.

 

Autonomous Power Racing’s initial “Donkey Car RC Workshop” happens Saturday, May 12th from 11 am to 3 pm at The Exploratorium, Pier 15 at San Francisco’s Embarcadero.  Participants get to build their own self-racing vehicles, which they can race on that day and at a later date.  Here’s the link for registration.