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Robotic Audi To Brave Pikes Peak Without a Driver

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the zoom-zoom-splat dept.

Scifi83 writes "A team of researchers at the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) has filled the trunk of an Audi TTS with computers and GPS receivers, transforming it into a vehicle that drives itself. The car will attempt Pikes Peak without a driver at race speeds, something that's never been done."

15 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Explanation by OpenSourced · · Score: 5, Funny

    The researchers have programmed Shelley to handle like a racecar by using a set of computer calculations called algorithms

    Ha! So that's how they did it! Quite simple, really, once you know the trick.

    --
    Rome taught me patience and assiduous application to detail. Virtues which temper the boldness of great, general views.
    1. Re:Explanation by whopub · · Score: 5, Funny

      Truth is, it's probable just The Stig in the trunk, with a laptop.

    2. Re:Explanation by tool462 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Bah. "Algorithm" is just doublespeak for "Mechanical Turk."

      Some say he can steer a car just by thinking evasive thoughts.
      And if he turns the wheel, the road will slide easily underneath his car like a waitress with Tiger Woods.
      All I know is that it'll be driven by The Stig.

    3. Re:Explanation by MaWeiTao · · Score: 5, Informative

      The car is named after Michèle Mouton, her nickname apparently was Shelley, the most successful female rally driver to date. Apparently she's considered the most successful female driver in all of motorsports. And it just so happens she drove Audi's and she was the first woman to win the Pikes Peak hill climb. I'd say that's a far more appropriate reference than anything from Asimov.

    4. Re:Explanation by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

      How exactly is the bravery implemented? What if next it decides to "brave" global domination?

      Don't worry! The scientists have that covered.

      To have bravery, you first must have fear. So the first and most difficult step was to program the car to be afraid all the time. Then, to get bravery, they simply program it to ignore its fear when it's driving up Pike's Peak.

      The rest of the time it's a total scaredy-car. If you think it's trying to dominate the globe, just shout "boo!" at it and it'll drive off to cower in the corner and cry.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  2. Note to Self by Kozar_The_Malignant · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Observe trials from uphill side of road.

    --
    Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
    1. Re:Note to Self by nacturation · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Observe trials from uphill side of road.

      No kidding. If ever a story deserved a "whatcouldpossiblygowrong" tag...

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    2. Re:Note to Self by couchslug · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Observe trials from uphill side of road."

      It's an Audi, not a Toyota!

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      "This post is an artistic work of fiction and falsehood. Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact."
  3. PP is an exciting road by smellsofbikes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Having raced up Pikes Peak myself, I think this is pretty impressive. The road surface varies from almost-pavement-quality treated packed dirt, to completely loose gravel on rut-filled rock, with (as I recall) an average 10% climb. It'd be a great test ground for offroad stuff at a slow speed with nobody else on the road, but doing it at full speed requires a *lot* more than just the ability to see where the roadway is: giving a robot the ability to keep a fast car from skidding/sliding on loose gravel on an off-camber turn appears to me to be a wholly different type of challenge than previous autonomous driving projects.

    --
    Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
  4. meh by OglinTatas · · Score: 4, Funny

    I already saw this on Speed Racer.
    Spoiler Alert!
    Speed wins the race anyway, and helps Inspector Detector catch the nefarious people behind the robot car

    --
    More music, fewer hits
  5. W1N vs. FA1L by S-4'N3 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I am not certain what will be more astonishing: watching this succeed or watching it fail.

    1. Re:W1N vs. FA1L by Carik · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Easy. Watching it succeed will be more astonishing.

      Watching it fail will be more entertaining (assuming some safety precautions preventing anyone from being killed).

    2. Re:W1N vs. FA1L by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

      (assuming some safety precautions preventing anyone from being killed).

      Good point!

      The summary only says that the car won't have a driver. I hope they remember to have the passengers get out, too!

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  6. Re:Audi?! by Tiger4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Audi, specifically Audi Quattros, have been rally car favorites for years. Big engine, good tranny, four wheel drive. There are a lot of people that know how to get them running well, and the cars are built well to do the job.

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  7. Obligatory AWESOME PP Video by imaswinger · · Score: 5, Informative

    Ari Vatanen racing up pike's peak: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgeCQGu_ug