Vaughn Gittin Jr. Drifts A Car Using Teleoperation

Remote operation for vehicles is no big deal these days, the government has been doing it for years. But now, Portland-based tech startup Designated Driver is taking it to a commercial level by running a Lincoln up the hill at Goodwood with no driver, at least inside. Professional drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. was in control from a remote facility and was able to operate the car using a complete VR driving setup. Not only was he able to drive the Lincoln up the hill without crashing but he was able to drift it.

Designated Driver was able to make this happen with visuals from a handful of cell phone cameras and electric inputs, all from over 5000 miles away. Although VGJ was only a few miles away in the UK, another test driver gave it a go from the company’s Portland, Oregon headquarters. Designated Driver believes its transatlantic teleoperation is the first test of its kind.