CMU First To Qualify For DARPA Grand Challenge

Anonymous Coward writes "As of 18:00 March 9th, Carnegie Mellon's Red Team is the only entry to successfully complete DARPA's Grand Challenge Qualification Inspection and Demonstration (QID) before the main event on March 13th. The NY Times has this article detailing this first step towards winning the Grand Challenge."

Comments

Interesting, but ...

[gravityZ]

... doesn't this basically lead directly to the US military dropping off Robo-Tanks in foreign countries as they please? We know that a steady diet of wars figure heavily in the plan for the forseeable future. The Robo-Tank cuts down on friendly casualties, thus making conflicts more palatable to the public.

Now I find this as cool as anyone else, from a technological standpoint. And it definitely has civilian applicability. But let's face it, this contest isn't about finding cheaper ways to haul cargo or reach remote locations.

Re:Interesting, but ...

[Belisarivs]

But let's face it, this contest isn't about finding cheaper ways to haul cargo or reach remote locations.

Sure it is. Logistics are a *huge* problem for the military, especially one that moves as fast as America's. Remember in Gulf War II that some of the most public incidents of American losses involved supply convoys, not front-line forces.

With this sort of technology, supply-lines become more like conveyor belts than masses of convoys. They elminate the need to teams of humans to transport fuel, water, ammunition, etc. to the front lines. This increases the pool of human resources available to the military for other jobs, while eliminating the worry of casualities inflicted by enemy interdiction missions.

Sure, automatic tanks will logically be a followup, but I think the military's mid-term goal is automating the logistics.

Re:Interesting, but ...

[demachina]

Based on recent experience I would take the military's word for once, though only once. If you look at Iraq most of the casualties weren't in combat. Soldiers in fast moving, heavily armored, M1 tanks really weren't that vulnerable.

Its probably going to be a real long time before you trust a robotic tank to discriminate friend or foe and to decide when and when not to start lobbing shells. Combat really should have a person in the loop who can react quickly to a complex and changing situation, one that often requires nuance. I wager an RPV tank is the only thing you may see anytime soon.

But if you look at Iraq the place where the Army is VERY vulnerable is convoying supplies from one place to another since they are sitting ducks for improvised explosive devices and ambushes. I could see robotic transports as priceless for this if they can cope with a predefined route, not run anything over and deal with obstructions.

Supply lines have always been the achilles heel of occupying armies. Indications are the U.S. military doesn't really need much help in the conflict phase, but it does need a lot of help to minimize the casualties and manpower needed to occupy its colonial empire.

Ack!

[ferralis]

I would sure hate to be a geologist, prospector, or hermit in the desert that day.

Gelogist: [mumbling to himself] Finally! Proof that the formation of this arroyo was caused by--

[Geologist is flattened by an army of driverless cars driving at upwards of 60 mph, one of which detects the collision too late and actually backs up, running over him again, as failing avoidance mechanisms kick in]

Re:Ack!

[Chalybeous]

I have a funny feeling some film studies geek is going to follow the action with a DV camera, and edit the raw footage into a movie using the soundtrack from "Cannonball Run"...

I, for one, welcome our autonomous vehicle overlords - even if they do sound like Burt Reynolds.

Re:Cost to PRIZE ratio.

[Ethon]

As stated in one of the replys to your post, the DoD will probably be offering a long term contract to manufacture similar vehicles for actual combat/whatever use. The DoD has already done this with the new-gen X planes, as seen on PBS' NOVA. The DoD's JSF competition will probably end up paying the winner (Lockheed) some $1T in total contractual monies.

Check out March 2004's PopSci...

[PieEye]

Popular Science has a great article in the March 2004 edition (online here at PopSci.com) called "Clash of the Headless Humvees".

Weird title, seeing how they showcase the CMU entry, a high-school entry running in an Acura (donated by a parent who works for Honda) and a single-member "team" trying to do a motorcycle entry.

Re:the real prize != money

[kidgenius]

Not too mention the possibility of future contracts that can net your school some major cash.

Re:The biggest issue I have..

[Zathrus]

with this is simply how cheap the US military is getting away with this

Getting away with what? Basic R&D?

So you'd rather have them spend a few billion on a single supplier, who may not be able to deliver anything, and then keep all the technology as classified for an unknown period of time? Yeah, that's a great use of taxpayer money.

Instead, they put out a challenge that allows both public and private industry to participate. Any useful technology could be immediately spun off for commercial use, and considerably less taxpayer funds are used (yes, public universities will use some taxpayer money as well, but it pales in comparison to the alternative).

Oh, and they're still not "getting away" with anything. DARPA doesn't automatically get the technology. If they get a winner then they'll have to negotiate licensing terms.

DARPA Grand Challenge Photos

[big_ara]

I am at the DARPA grand challenge right now.

Here are some photos:

DARPA Grand Challenge Photos

Enjoy!