Hanzehogeschool Groningen and Fontys winners Self Driving Challenge 2025
Under summer conditions, vehicles drove the final round of the seventh Self Driving Challenge yesterday at the RDW Test Centre in Lelystad. Seven student teams competed in two categories for the SDC Cup. It was an exciting competition, ultimately won by Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen (closed category) and Fontys University of Applied Sciences (open category).
Sunny Finale
Since February, eleven student teams had been working on a self-programmed – and in the open category, largely self-built – autonomous vehicle. The teams were able to test their vehicles and software each week. The weather during the testing days was often cloudy and rainy, making the sunshine during the final round an unexpected challenge. During this sunny finale, the vehicles completed a special course, navigating realistic traffic situations such as traffic lights and crossing pedestrians. The final was presented by ‘Huge car guy’ Roland Tameling and RDW’s Koen Peeters.
Challenges
The course proved to be challenging for the teams, with several vehicles breaking down at various points. Only Hanze University and Fontys completed a flawless lap in their respective categories. “You can see that the level of the Challenge rises every year. We made the track much harder, and still, two teams finished. A real achievement!” said Johan in ’t Holt, SDC project lead at RDW.
Two Categories
The Self Driving Challenge consists of two competition categories:
Closed category: teams use a kart supplied by RDW. Each team in this category has the same kart, but is responsible for their own programming. Four teams competed in this category.
Open category: teams use their own vehicle. This year, no fewer than seven teams participated in this category, with vehicles ranging from a Renault Twizy to a modified quad bike. Unfortunately, a few vehicles had to drop out just before the start due to technical issues.
Prizes
The winners of both categories received not only a trophy but also an “experience” at NXP on the High-Tech Campus in Eindhoven. Second and third place winners were awarded medals.
