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Grand Challenge 1, Competitors 0
Ivan writes "According to the DARPA Grand Challenge Status Board, 2 bots were withdrawn before the race started and the remaining 13 were all disabled. Red Team and SciAutonics II tied at 7 miles, a bit short of the 142 miles required." CNN has coverage and interviews.
Okay, someone feel free to correct me, but how did any of the competitors fail in this one? They only needed to get their entry to go 142 miles on autopilot... 142 miles across a completely barren plain, with very few obstacles.
I would expect that a stock 4x4 truck would have gotten further with no modifications beyond a brick on the gas pedal and the steering-wheel locked to go straight.
Something about this doesn't sound right (no, not a conspiracy theory, just that everything I've read on this has apparently omitted some very critical detail that would make the challenge considerable more... Well... "Challenging").
Anyone care to enlighten me?
Looks like they'll have to send actual people on their missions of peace and understanding for some time yet.
:O
... I can't wait until the US military finally has some ultra-efficient killing machines on their hands. Those soliders of theirs have ridiculous requires like food and sleep, and some of them even go crazy at the sight of all the destruction they're causing. And then there's the constant stream of deaths that you have to ban the media from showing to keep the presidential approval rating up. Bring on the killing machines!
Although recalling some videos of patriot missiles in action, maybe this technology is an improvement on what they've got.
Hell, at least these guys could work at NASA
But back to the story
I thought Microsoft was part of the Government now. They seem to innovate a lot.
I'm amazing. You aren't. SUCK IT
Please explain how, with specific cited examples, the United States oppressed, or as you elegantly put "fucked over" Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Thank you for your cooperation.
Well, obviously they provided Osama with aid, comfort, and support and had no intention of stopping. They made their choice; backed the wrong horse. The Taliban were both stupid and evil.
But Osama's a Saudi, and his hatred for America comes from America's behaviour in the middle east - their unwelcome military presence in the holy land of Saudi Arabia
And we are there against the will of Saudi Arabia? Or perhaps Osama is just an evil, fundamentalist lunatic looking for an excuse to attack non-combatents.
, their failure to force Israel to stop murdering Palestinians,
So it is alright to use force in the Middle East? Which is it? You are speaking out of both sides of your ignorant face.
their greed for oil,
Yeah aren't we terrible. Enriching countries that would otherwise be eating dirt while paying monopolistic prices. The West are just a bunch of devils.
their percieved negative attitude to Islam.
Gee. It's shocking that such an attitude would exist. Islam has done so much good in the last 100 years.
So basically you are completely incapable of providing evidence that the United States has done anything to provoke these, according to you, noble terrorists like Bin Laden. Thanks for playing.