DARPA Grand Challenge Kicks Off March 13th

GillBates0 writes "A quick reminder that the DARPA Grand Challenge is due to kick off March 13, the coming Saturday." He points to this "quick recap of the teams participating in the event," as well as details about the available satellite feeds. "The Atlanta-Journal Constitution is running a story about the event today. Quoting Frank Dellaert, co-director of Georgia Tech's robotics lab from the article, 'I would have trouble driving some of these roads myself. I think it's beyond the capabilities of autonomous vehicles today.' (shameless school plug). We'll see if the participants can prove him wrong." Iphtashu Fitz adds a link to the New York Times' coverage of the trans-Mojave race, whose participants include "among other things a seriously tricked out motorcycle. The race is being run by the Pentagon, who is offering a $1 million prize to the builders of the first robot to successfully navigate a 200 mile route across the desert. ... a blog on ScienceBlog about the race has just started as well."

Comments

so you telling me .... $$$

[Quadfreak0]

So anyone planning on hi-jackin... uh I mean borrowing some equipment thats just rolling around the desert? Nobody is physically standing there watching right?

Re:so you telling me .... $$$

[Anonymous Coward]

Sweet Jesus, you can't stand there! That's bat country!

Researchers are wrong

[tyrani]

They're looking in the wrong place. I see a half dozen idiots drive "autonomously" to work everyday while eating, reading the frickin news paper, shaving, applying make-up, etc.

Researchers should be looking to these people for the artificial intelligence that they need!

the real problem...

[Anonymous Coward]

I would have trouble driving some of these roads myself

The real problem is that his turn signal is on for 150 of the miles and confuses all the autonomous vehicles.

Re:the real problem...

[4of12]

his turn signal is on

I've always regarded this driving gaffe to be the moral equivalent of leaving one's fly open.

And the steering wheel auto shut-off after a turn is completed is not enough.

I swear, Caddies and Town Cars ought to be equipped with ramp function for loudness (up to DEF CON 5 buzzer level) and interior brightness (disco strobe light intensity) for turn signals as a helpful reminder that need to be shut off.

I was all excited until.....

[tyrani]

...I read the articles and found out that there would be no hack-saw blades nor pneumatically controlled spike hammers.

Now that would be an autonomous vehicle I'd pay to see.

Red vs. Blue

[Anonymous Coward]

Red Team: "Muahaha! Bow before the greatest CS school in the universe and our giant Hummer that is smarter than you!"

Blue Team: "Feh! We can beat you with two wheels tied behind our backs!" *obscene gesture*

Red Team: "Come a little closer and say that."

The ultimate RC car

[daemonc]

I want one of these for Christmas, damnit! You could run over your neighbor's house with that mo fo...

The favorite?

[Innominate Milquetoa]

So how does the favored team train for a 210 mile race through the Mojave Desert?? Why, by testing it in the SNOW of course!

DARPA and Gregg

[joemontoya]

I love that show! DARPA with her wacky ideals and her lawyer partner with a corncob in the butt.

Re:The Real Purpose Of This Contest

[Anonymous Coward]

Relax, he said that, "...no one will will this contest". In other words, he thinks that it is unfortunate the project will not be willed to someone. See?