No Cash Prize for Next DARPA Grand Challenge

General Lee's Peking writes to mention an Associated Press article about a sad development in the DARPA Grand Challenge. Because of some new DoD-related legislation, the organization will no longer be able to award the $2 Million prize to grand challenge winners. It's not all bad, though; they still get a trophy. From the article: "The absence of a lucrative cash prize has forced some teams to retool their game plan and others to drop out. Some fear it would be harder to attract corporate sponsors and hurt media coverage of the race, which drew a throng of reporters last year and inspired a PBS documentary. 'The icing on the cake is gone,' said Ivar Schoenmeyr, team leader of California-based Team CyberRider, which is retrofitting a Toyota Prius hybrid."

Comments

No Cash Prize?

[ackthpt]

So much for recovering my development expenses on these ideas:

• Rocket-powered Army Jeep (for when you need to get out FAST!)
• Submarine Desert Camo
• Inflatable M*A*S*H nurse
• Rumsfeld Magic 8 Ball
• Linux Beowulf Cluster Bombs
• Battlefield Mobile Starbucks
• Solar Powered Night-Vision goggles
• Water-proof Spy Satellite (good to 100m!)
• Portable HUD Air Combat Training with Flash banner ads
• Iraq Monopoly (also, expansion with Exit Strategy cards)
• Armour-piercing stealth mosquito repellant

note: Sharks with Lasers is someone else's idea so I clearly can't try to compete with that one.

Re:No Cash Prize?

[ackthpt]

Without coffee, I swear the Air Force would shut down. Coffee is the real black gold.

"OK private, we're all counting on you to get through the lines. We'll try to hold out as long as we can, but you know what we're up against. Now just to be sure you've got it right, repeat your objective."

"Vente mocha soy for Johnson, latte triple shot for Malloy, grand house blend decaf for Morales, because he's trying to cut down, tall cafe' au lait for you, Sarge, iced espresso with whipped creme for Gooch and a double espresso for me."

"Good lad, off you go!"

Other forms of remuneration

[jo42]

The DoD could always offer other forms of remuneration to the winner. Such a awarding contracts for supplies, such as $500 toilet seats and $250 hammers...nyet?

Re:Other forms of remuneration

[doormat]

I could be wrong here, but don't think Stanford University is in the business of manufacturing toilet seats or hammers

I dont think you got it....

1. Get awarded contract for 10,000 toilets at $500.
2. Go purchase 10,000 toilets through distributor for $100 each.
3. Profit!

Re:Other forms of remuneration

[protolith]

Its easy, They said they would award a Trophy.

If they pay $500 for a toilet seat and $250 for a hammer then a nice trophy would be like $2 million.

They could award some kind of voucher to go pick the trophy the winning team wants.

You wouldnt want them stuck with just any $2 million trophy. They should pick the one they want.

I'm sure the government has some kind of voucher that would be good at any trophy shop.

Yea maybe the Govt. bank will back the voucher so you know its good, call it a "Federal Reserve Note" or something like that. 2 million of those ought to do.

No Cash Prize for Next DARPA Grand Challenge ?

[7Prime]

Solid Snake's gonna be VERY disappointed...

...wait, what DARPA were we talking about, again?

General Lee's Peking?

[antifoidulus]

Why can't I order that at my local Chinese restaurant?

Ruined my plan

[bryz]

Step 1. Buy Lexus LS460 with autopark
Step 2. Put ls460 backwards at starting line, tell it to park at finish line.
Step 3. Profit.