About the SDC

Develop your skills for the future of autonomous driving

The Self Driving Challenge is an annual recurring event that aims to gain knowledge about complex technology for automated decision-making in vehicles. Each year, a challenge goal is set, and participating student teams are tasked with developing software for their vehicle to achieve this goal as effectively as possible. Previous challenges have included driving in a simulation environment and driving on a real circuit.

With the Self Driving Challenge (SDC), the RDW provides young talent the opportunity to develop their skills for the future of autonomous driving. This is a unique project in which student teams compete against each other. They do so by driving their autonomous vehicle through a set of challenges on a track that represent real world driving scenarios.

The Self Driving Challenge is an ongoing yearly event since 2019. Previous challenges included driving in a simulation environment and driving on a real race track. For edition 2025, a new custom track was designed to incorporate modern real world scenarios and regulations from UN ECE regulations R157 (Automated Lane Keeping Systems) and R171 (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).

Teams will be able to participate in either a 'closed category' or an 'open category'. The RDW will provide the kick-off, webinars, technical information, testing-days and the final race event. The educational institutions are responsible for the necessary resources, supervision and guidance for their participating teams.

Edition 2025

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Fourteen spots available in 2026!

We have 14 spots available in the RDW Self Driving Challenge 2026! Divided between the Open and Closed categories, these teams are ready to take on the challenge of a lifetime. Educational institutions have until February 2026 to select and finalise their winning teams. The excitement is building, and we can’t wait to see which bright minds will elevate the future of autonomous driving to the next level!

LEARN MORE ABOUT EDITION 2026

For educational institutions

Is the Self Driving Challenge the event that can make the education program of your course challenging, exciting and above all very fun? The Self Driving Challenge is well suited for many disciplines within or related to the IT-sector. Think for example of courses on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics or Robotics! Together we can look at how we can best integrate the challenge into your institution.

For organizations

Are you looking for a way to profile your company or organization as an innovative and socially involved partner in the Automotive or IT sector? Then the Self Driving Challenge is a unique opportunity to do so! You can support the challenge with your knowledge, expertise, services or other matters, and thus contribute to the development of future IT-professionals. Contact us and discover the possibilities to work together!