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DARPA's Autonomous Vehicle Challenge Too Popular?
Tim writes "Mobilerobotics.org has an editorial accompanying a copy of a letter to one of the teams entering the DARPA Grand Challenge 1 million dollar autonomous vehicle race, in which DARPA admits to underestimating the number of teams that can actually partipate in the actual race. They figure they've only got room for 20 teams, and more than 100 have applied. The writer of the editorial argues that if more than 20 teams can qualify safely and technically, DARPA should have to chose the 20 cheapest financed teams. What should DARPA do to sort out these problems?" CNET News has more on the high turn-out, while DARPA ponders its next step.
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Why is this such a big deal?
The course.
Just the number of local jurisdictions that this race will pass through makes the logical approach undoable because of the logistical requirements.
I'm involved a bit in ultramarathon cycling and they go through the same problems all the time. State Police, County Sheriff, City Police, everyone with a badge and permit application form gets in on the act and you have to coordinate them all.
One numnut in the middle of the course who'll only let you do it on Tuesday, but only if the moon is full, fucks the whole deal if everyone else will only allow it on Wednsday, but only if the moon is new.
KFG