Here is the link to DARPA's coverage on the events: results
DARPA is continuing to lower the requirements to qualify for the race in hopes to allow more than about 5 contestants. They are also overlooking some of the safety rules in the pit area to allow the teams to do as much troublshooting as possible without a DARPA rep. being present. Originally teams were not allowed to move their vehicle without a rep. present or even put it into autonomous mode. The teams are now being allowed to drive their vehicles in manual mode and park them in autonomus mode in an attempt by DARPA to allow as many teams to qualify as possible.
The big news today is that three more teams have successfully finished the Q&D course.
Team Caltech. The Caltech team is the first to completely navigate the course using a NavCom GPS receiver.
Sci-AutonicsII is the first to unequivocally clinch a position in the Grand Challenge competition by successfully navigating the Q&D course two times. Sci-AutonicsII has decided to pass on their originally scheduled second run of the Q&D course.
Virginia Tech is the fourth team to completely navigate the course.
Team CIMAR (ASI & Florida State) made two more runs on the Q&D course. Their second one was made with reflexive obstacle avoidance functioning but without IMU integration. They were on their way to complete the course until they passed under a walkway that briefly blocked GPS. The dropout caused the vehicle to veer hard right and swap paint with the retaining wall. The damage was only superficial despite brutally applied custom pinstipes to one of the Preco RADAR sensors.
Here's the second day field report sent to me by a friend who is out attending the DARPA Grand Challenge. Posted with his permission:
Attendance was about the same today except it didn't appear that there was as many media representatives present. Again temperatures were in the 90's. I acquired a media pass today and was allowed access to almost every area of the speedway including the pits and the start line. This will allow me to film each entry up close and interview members of the teams. DARPA is also publishing the daily events here and here.
Vehicle inspections on the rest of the field were performed today. DARPA is reacting as fast as they can to modify the rules and give every opportunity to each of the teams in hopes they will be able to qualify. DARPA is now allowing the teams as many appearances on the Q&D course as requested by the teams. The Q&D that was scheduled today became an opportunity for teams to iron out their problems on the track.
The Blue team with the CyberRider (the motorcycle entry Web Site) was the first on the Q&D course. It traveled about 20 feet when it fell over and exposed it's greasy side.
Team ENSCO Web Site traveled to the first major turn and failed to navigate the first sharp turn. This is also the same place Team TerraMax web site failed today and the Sci Autonics web site team.
The first turn appears to be difficult for the vehicles that make it there.
The ASI/Florida State Web Site had two more runs today. They disabled all of the perception systems and successfully ran about 1/3 of the course. The first run, the vehicle was driving like a "drunk sailor" according to a member of the team. Florida State took the recoded path data to tune their vehicle controller. ASI reported the vehicle tracked much better on the second run. I get the impression that a few more Q&D course test runs will be performed before the vehicle is ready to qualify.
Team Caltech Web Site made two more runs on the Q&D course. Well, both runs were consistent, but not as good as yesterday. Both times, cleared the start line and banked hard left as if it were going to the last way point. I hope to find out today what happened.
There were several other teams that attempted the Q&D course today with similar or worse results.
The highlight of the day was CMU's Red Team web site. As anticipated they made it to the finish line of the course and electrified the spectators and increased pressure to the rest of the field.
That's the highlights of the second day of Q&D testing.
Although the kick-off isn't until March 13th, the days leading up to it include Qualifying and Demoing time. Below is a friend's field report after Day 1, posted with his permission:
Total attendance was probably arround 350-450 people. I think there were about 50 people that attended that were not associated in any way to the race.
Vehicle inspections were performed on several vehicles the morning of the first day. The inspectors were verifying functionality of safety devices including the e-stop buttons, remote e-stop, beacon, and the alarm.
The qualifying and demonstration (Q&D) of several vehicles was done in the near 90 degree heat of the afternoon. The test course was composed of an approximately 1/4 mile serpentine track outlined by short penguines (orange cones). It consisted of about 50 GPS waypoints Obstacles included a sand pit, two gate openings, and two abandoned cars.
The biggest event of the day was the events that didn't happen.
I don't believe the first team, Team Phantasm appeared at the test track for Q&D. If they did appear at the start line of the Q&D course, they did not move.
The second team for Q&D was the Lousiana State CajunBot. The vehicle moved about 1 foot and stopped short of hitting the elevated start line ribbon. According to a CajunBot team member, a DARPA representitive was confused by the vehicle dwelling for 30 seconds before starting and erroneously pressed the remote e-stop while the vehicle was still behind the start line.
The ASI/Florida state vehicle did not move at all.
Team Caltech had the first vehicle to pass the start line. It completed about 3/4 of the course. It was out of view when it stopped moving and I don't know if it was e-stopped or if it malfunctioned and stopped on it's own.
I don't believe the A.I. Motorvators team appeared on the track.
Team D.A.D did not move at all
I don't recall seeing the Golem Group appear at the track; however, I was loosing interest by this time.
The Palos Verdes High School team had a brand new, well polished $40,000 Acura SUV. It would have won 1st prize in a beauty contest. The vehicle passed the start line and immediately went off course and killed two penguins. It drove parallel to a concrete barrier, dwelled for about a minute, turned it's wheels towards the barrier and did a face plant. That was an impressive demonstration from a high school team.
ASI/Florida State was given a second chance to qualify. The second verse was the same as the first... It just sat there. Bummer!
Tomorrow I'll don some SPF 50 to prevent any more sun burning, attempt to acquire either a pit or press pass so I can take note of the technology visible on each vehicle, and hope that at least one team is able to qualify.
Boy, time to polish off my knowledge of Scott Adam's text adventure commands, where half the "fun" is trying to determine the right command for the job:
> insert key Sorry. I can't do that.
> put key Where?
> place the key in the damn lock you bloody parser!!! Sorry. I don't know what that means.
> this stupid game sucks Sorry. I don't know what that means.
> unlock door You use the key to unlock the door. Score +1 (11 of 500).
I wonder how long before you lose it and boot the robot across the room because the parser responded (yet again) with "Does not compute".
Deserved it? I daresay he did. Many that win deserve to lose. And some that lose deserve to win. Can you give it to them, destine? Do not be too eager to deal out Oscars in judgement. Even the Academy cannot see all ends.
If you are serious about learning how to use UnrealED, take a look at what 3dbuzz.com has to offer: free video training modules (VTMs) on how to use the thing. Some of the modules are pretty hefty -- weighing in at 100+MB on some lessons. These can be found
here.
On a somewhat related note, if you pre-order the special edition of UT2K4 you'll get the VTMs on a DVD.
Never, unless of course you meant security for anyone except the computers owner. Then it makes plenty of sense to make the computer a remote-controlled secondary terminal...
Hope the folks out in LA County were able to read the original post okay. I've taken the liberty to sanitize the offensive portion for them.
...and it only took, what 4 or 5 months? Sheesh. I guess that's why I bought Jedi Academy -- I was a Jedi immediately after installing the game. Talk about your instant gratification! Yep, that's me! Always taking the quick and easy way. And... and...
<ominous voiceover> You... like your Father... are now.... MINE! </ominous voiceover>
If your wife has an affair, you divorce the bitch, you don't shoot her. Dumb Canadians! Always resorting to violence.
On the other hand, if she's having an affair with another woman -- then it's okay to shoot her and her lover. Just remember to buy extra video tape. And, uh, send me a copy.
Slashdot Mirror
On a somewhat related note, I just read on EN World that Gary Gygax recently suffered a mild stroke. Man, hearing news like this makes me feel old.
Here is the link to DARPA's coverage on the events: results
DARPA is continuing to lower the requirements to qualify for the race in hopes to allow more than about 5 contestants. They are also overlooking some of the safety rules in the pit area to allow the teams to do as much troublshooting as possible without a DARPA rep. being present. Originally teams were not allowed to move their vehicle without a rep. present or even put it into autonomous mode. The teams are now being allowed to drive their vehicles in manual mode and park them in autonomus mode in an attempt by DARPA to allow as many teams to qualify as possible.
The big news today is that three more teams have successfully finished the Q&D course.
Team Caltech. The Caltech team is the first to completely navigate the course using a NavCom GPS receiver.
Sci-AutonicsII is the first to unequivocally clinch a position in the Grand Challenge competition by successfully navigating the Q&D course two times. Sci-AutonicsII has decided to pass on their originally scheduled second run of the Q&D course.
Virginia Tech is the fourth team to completely navigate the course.
Team CIMAR (ASI & Florida State) made two more runs on the Q&D course. Their second one was made with reflexive obstacle avoidance functioning but without IMU integration. They were on their way to complete the course until they passed under a walkway that briefly blocked GPS. The dropout caused the vehicle to veer hard right and swap paint with the retaining wall. The damage was only superficial despite brutally applied custom pinstipes to one of the Preco RADAR sensors.
Attendance was about the same today except it didn't appear that there was as many media representatives present. Again temperatures were in the 90's. I acquired a media pass today and was allowed access to almost every area of the speedway including the pits and the start line. This will allow me to film each entry up close and interview members of the teams. DARPA is also publishing the daily events here and here.
Vehicle inspections on the rest of the field were performed today. DARPA is reacting as fast as they can to modify the rules and give every opportunity to each of the teams in hopes they will be able to qualify. DARPA is now allowing the teams as many appearances on the Q&D course as requested by the teams. The Q&D that was scheduled today became an opportunity for teams to iron out their problems on the track.
The Blue team with the CyberRider (the motorcycle entry Web Site) was the first on the Q&D course. It traveled about 20 feet when it fell over and exposed it's greasy side.
Team ENSCO Web Site traveled to the first major turn and failed to navigate the first sharp turn. This is also the same place Team TerraMax web site failed today and the Sci Autonics web site team.
The first turn appears to be difficult for the vehicles that make it there.
The ASI/Florida State Web Site had two more runs today. They disabled all of the perception systems and successfully ran about 1/3 of the course. The first run, the vehicle was driving like a "drunk sailor" according to a member of the team. Florida State took the recoded path data to tune their vehicle controller. ASI reported the vehicle tracked much better on the second run. I get the impression that a few more Q&D course test runs will be performed before the vehicle is ready to qualify.
Team Caltech Web Site made two more runs on the Q&D course. Well, both runs were consistent, but not as good as yesterday. Both times, cleared the start line and banked hard left as if it were going to the last way point. I hope to find out today what happened.
There were several other teams that attempted the Q&D course today with similar or worse results.
The highlight of the day was CMU's Red Team web site. As anticipated they made it to the finish line of the course and electrified the spectators and increased pressure to the rest of the field.
That's the highlights of the second day of Q&D testing.
Total attendance was probably arround 350-450 people. I think there were about 50 people that attended that were not associated in any way to the race.
Vehicle inspections were performed on several vehicles the morning of the first day. The inspectors were verifying functionality of safety devices including the e-stop buttons, remote e-stop, beacon, and the alarm.
The qualifying and demonstration (Q&D) of several vehicles was done in the near 90 degree heat of the afternoon. The test course was composed of an approximately 1/4 mile serpentine track outlined by short penguines (orange cones). It consisted of about 50 GPS waypoints Obstacles included a sand pit, two gate openings, and two abandoned cars.
The biggest event of the day was the events that didn't happen.
I don't believe the first team, Team Phantasm appeared at the test track for Q&D. If they did appear at the start line of the Q&D course, they did not move.
The second team for Q&D was the Lousiana State CajunBot. The vehicle moved about 1 foot and stopped short of hitting the elevated start line ribbon. According to a CajunBot team member, a DARPA representitive was confused by the vehicle dwelling for 30 seconds before starting and erroneously pressed the remote e-stop while the vehicle was still behind the start line.
The ASI/Florida state vehicle did not move at all.
Team Caltech had the first vehicle to pass the start line. It completed about 3/4 of the course. It was out of view when it stopped moving and I don't know if it was e-stopped or if it malfunctioned and stopped on it's own.
I don't believe the A.I. Motorvators team appeared on the track.
Team D.A.D did not move at all
I don't recall seeing the Golem Group appear at the track; however, I was loosing interest by this time.
The Palos Verdes High School team had a brand new, well polished $40,000 Acura SUV. It would have won 1st prize in a beauty contest. The vehicle passed the start line and immediately went off course and killed two penguins. It drove parallel to a concrete barrier, dwelled for about a minute, turned it's wheels towards the barrier and did a face plant. That was an impressive demonstration from a high school team.
ASI/Florida State was given a second chance to qualify. The second verse was the same as the first... It just sat there. Bummer!
Tomorrow I'll don some SPF 50 to prevent any more sun burning, attempt to acquire either a pit or press pass so I can take note of the technology visible on each vehicle, and hope that at least one team is able to qualify.
Boy, time to polish off my knowledge of Scott Adam's text adventure commands, where half the "fun" is trying to determine the right command for the job:
> insert key
Sorry. I can't do that.
> put key
Where?
> place the key in the damn lock you bloody parser!!!
Sorry. I don't know what that means.
> this stupid game sucks
Sorry. I don't know what that means.
> unlock door
You use the key to unlock the door. Score +1 (11 of 500).
I wonder how long before you lose it and boot the robot across the room because the parser responded (yet again) with "Does not compute".
Deserved it? I daresay he did. Many that win deserve to lose. And some that lose deserve to win. Can you give it to them, destine? Do not be too eager to deal out Oscars in judgement. Even the Academy cannot see all ends.
If you are serious about learning how to use UnrealED, take a look at what 3dbuzz.com has to offer: free video training modules (VTMs) on how to use the thing. Some of the modules are pretty hefty -- weighing in at 100+MB on some lessons. These can be found here.
On a somewhat related note, if you pre-order the special edition of UT2K4 you'll get the VTMs on a DVD.
...appear with Jonathan Archer. Ack! Phphphphttttt!
I also knew this guy on the street that dressed like a girl to get into women's only shelters.
I knew a similar guy, but he never went out when he was dressed like a chick. Around here he was simply known as "Dad".
Well, if you ask me, they can eat my number 2.
These a scientific bases. That is why it is science and why it is matters.
Also, all your base are belong to us.
Roman gamer dude 2: Woah! Dude! You rolled an alpha!
Roman gamer dude 1: Shit.
Never, unless of course you meant security for anyone except the computers owner. Then it makes plenty of sense to make the computer a remote-controlled secondary terminal...
Hope the folks out in LA County were able to read the original post okay. I've taken the liberty to sanitize the offensive portion for them.
...Except There's No Music, No Choreography, and the Dancers Hit Each Other.
Tolkein was not a holy saint. His work is not the Bible. In some places his story telling is actually subpar.
Heathen!
In response to the recent hacking of their N-Gage, Nokia has issued the following press release on their website:
"Fuck you. That is all."
...and it only took, what 4 or 5 months? Sheesh. I guess that's why I bought Jedi Academy -- I was a Jedi immediately after installing the game. Talk about your instant gratification! Yep, that's me! Always taking the quick and easy way. And... and...
<ominous voiceover>
You... like your Father... are now.... MINE!
</ominous voiceover>
Not for me.
Right-o! Who can ever forget "A Very Chewy Christmas"? Well, me... I wish I could.
If your wife has an affair, you divorce the bitch, you don't shoot her. Dumb Canadians! Always resorting to violence.
On the other hand, if she's having an affair with another woman -- then it's okay to shoot her and her lover. Just remember to buy extra video tape. And, uh, send me a copy.
I'm still trying to figure out who the bigger puss is -- the dad or the kid.