Slashdot Mirror
DARPA Grand Challenge Updates
GraffitiKnight writes "After only 1 team managed to successfully navigate the DARPA Qualifying course, DARPA has rewritten the rules to let almost everyone compete. Wired has the story, which also mentions rumors that the race will run to 150 miles, much less than the original plans of 210 - 300 miles." Here is some earlier Slashdot coverage of the race.
I hear that it will be the machines hunting a prisoner or something over a 150 mile course.
As a member of the CMU Robotics Institute, though not Red Team, I must add that this is such a rip...well, okay, I guess we can let the others compete, but we still win, right?
"I say we must move forward, not backward, upward, not forward, and always twirling twirling twirling towards freedom!"
-Kodos
Theater Wide Missile Defense, has a fancier name. Basically a mobile (naval at the moment) ballistic missile defense system that can protect an entire theater of war.
Example: Park a couple of cruisers in the Persian Gulf, no more Scud threat. Problem is, well, it "works" if, as someone else mentioned, the target has a "big neon sign on it saying 'Hit Me'"
The Patriot does work...it shoots down allied planes very, very well. Enemy missiles..well...sometimes. I mean, hitting 50% of missiles incoming, now that's HUGE. But shooting down allied planes before the operator can go, "NO WAIT STOP! ESC! ESC! Crtl-Alt-Del!" that's not so good.
The Comanche worked, 10 years and $8,000,000,000 in. The Osprey works, assuming you take care of the things, which they didn't, and what "working" for an Osprey means is a little fuzzy. Works as in "Takes off and lands" or works as in "Replaces Blackhawks and Chinooks as a troop transport." The DoD and DARPA have a few major screw ups that cost billions of dollars, look at Star Wars, a lot of the new luggage screening tools, and some of their more novel toys as an example. DARPA of course, has an excuse, since they do research and not everything is even supposed to work, just prove a concept, test an idea, or do something new, even if not useful.
DoD on the other hand? They have no excuse. They build things that don't work all the time, but they aren't doing research. They're in the business of doing damage, and not to their own employees and soldiers.
"Life's funny sometimes." "And sometimes it isn't." --Cat's Cradle
Ok, let them drive through this. I mean, I just can't figure it out. :D
(btw no need to click on the images etc. just crap below)
... The pathfinding strategy is indeed borrowed from video game technology.
You see, good things came from the Half-Life 2 source code leak.
Yep. I think all who want to enter but failed the practice course, should only be allowed in if they lock the throttle on their vehicles to "Full".
You know what?
3. The participating teams are not required to develop an Emergency-Stop system. DARPA will provide and operate the E-stop for all teams.
I like that rule, personally. Here's a quick translation.
3. Your vehicle is not required to have an Emergency-Stop system. We have tanks which will provide and operate the E-stop at all times. Hope that allieviates your concerns!!!111