DARPA Grand Challenge 2005 Rules Announced

Mr_KnowItAll writes "Our friends at DARPA have released the proposed rules for the 2005 Grand Challenge. They learned their lesson from the first one, now they will expect teams to submit a video demonstration of their vehicle's ability to complete the course before being invited to participate. Good, but they're also advancing the timeline to the point that it will be very hard to any team to start now and hope to participate. After all the fuss at DARPA's last-minute rule changes in '04, it's interesting to see that they're offering the proposed rules for community review and feedback."

Comments

I sent them some questions

[rfc1394]

To: GrandChallenge@darpa.mil
From: Paul Robinson <Postmaster@paul.washington.dc.us>
Subject: Rules Clarification - 3.6.4 Manual Emergency Stop Unit

With respect to the following section:

3.6.4 Manual Emergency Stop Unit
Each vehicle must be additionally equipped with an externally actuated manual emergency stop capability. Activating the manual emergency stop must promptly bring the vehicle to a complete halt in the DISABLE mode. At least one actuator and its labeling must be easily visible and accessible by an average human standing anywhere around the vehicle. The manual emergency stop must be easy to identify and activate safely, even if the vehicle is moving at a walking pace. The operation instructions for manual emergency stop actuators must be clearly labeled in English and Spanish. The instructions must not be interfered with by any other labeling or advertising. A demonstration of the manual emergency stop capability will be required as part of the NQE.

I ask the following:

1. Is the above provision complied with by a standard power brake such as is usally and customarily activated by a common, ordinary brake pedal on a standard automobile that is operated by the driver of a manned vehicle, or does it require some additional piece of equipment such as a button, lever or other control?
2. Is this complied with by, for example, a vehicle having ordinary controls such as a common brake pedal on the drivers' side of the passenger compartment of a passenger vehicle, but modified, say, so the doors are removed, allowing someone to simply jump into an operating, unmanned vehicle while it is moving and thus stop the vehicle simply by stepping on the brake?
3. The above says "externally actuated." Does this mean that the emergency stop must simply be accessible by someone on or in the vehicle (such as a person who gets into, say, a passenger compartment) as opposed to being inside of a control area, or does it require the emergency stop to be accessible from outside of the vehicle?
4. If an acceptable method for manual stop includes a standard, ordinary brake pedal as stated in question (1), obviously visible and accessible from a drivers' seat such that an ordinary person able to operate an automobile could use it, does it require labeling?
5. If the method for manual stop requires something separate from or in addition to a common, ordinary brake pedal as stated in question (1), is the manual stop method complied with by use of, for example, a lever which pushes or pulls directly or indirectly by other rods, wires or other devices on a common brake pedal?
6. Where an additional method is used for the method of manual stop either because it is chosen or required is something in addition to a common brake pedal, such as a lever or button, is the labeling requirement complied with by a sign saying something such as "Emergency Stop - Pull orange lever" or "Emergency Stop - Push orange lever" or "Emergency Stop - Push green button", (where, obviously,.the device used for this purpose is a lever colored orange or a green-colored button), or must the object itself be marked with something like "Emergency Stop"? (The above indicates that it is required to be labelled in English and Spanish so presume the labelling includes both languages.)

Respectfully Submitted
Paul Robinson <postmaster@paul.washington.dc.us>