One of the problems with this philosopy is, how do you know if you are re-inventing the wheel? Innovation is about using commonly available objects and coming up with exciting new ways to use them. Sure, maybe your new design uses a wheel in it, but it doesn't mean it is re-inventing it! and just because someone else has an idea that works, doesnt mean you shouldn't try out your own as well. Think of how many innventions in history would not exist except for their creator's attemp to re-invent!

Jason - you know because the function you are trying to implement is already available off-the-shelf

the contest is to produce a vehicle/machine that can find its way from LA to LV all by itself, on the ground, in the desert and on the highway, in 10 hours or less.

We already have machines that can meet this challenge if you put a:

1. human driver
2. radio control system
3. trained monkey

behind the steering wheel.

The Golden Rule 'dont re-invent' means exactly that - you need to be able to determine what parts of this new machine already exist, and what parts need to be invented.

If you start inventing electic cars, or using solar powered vehicles, designing new frames, chassis, engines, transmissions...

you have already gotten sidetracked - you are already lost!

the challenge DARPA is throwing down is self-naviation.

Solve the self navigation problem and you get a cool 1 Million, and you can be sure DARPA will incorporate your idea into:

Jeeps
tanks
mindsweepers
HumVees
personnel carriers

and a cruise missle on wheels :c)

one of the real challenges of enginnering is to stay focused on the REAL problem - and not run off an play with technology, your tools, your CAD...

hence the Golden Rule! [Its GOLD for a reason - dont rationalize it away :c]

Not entirely true. Part of the problem is integrating that navigation system with the vehicle. Does a computer have arms that can manipulate a steering wheel? Does a computer have legs to manipulate a gas pedal? Does a computer need leather seats and an airbag?


I could design a navigation system in a day. It does me no good if it isn't tailored to the vehicle.

It makes it a lot easier if the vehicle is simpler to tailor the navigation system to.



The challenge DARPA is giving us is to build a computer-controlled vehicle. Many sub-systems in today's vehicles are designed so that a human can work with them efficiently. Obviously, a computer doesn't have the same features as a human, so these sub-systems are going to have to either be removed or re-designed so that a computer can work with them efficiently.


The golden word here is efficiency.

There's no doubt about it that navigation is a big part of this competition, but you cannot overlook the integration aspect.

power steering, power brakes

cruise control...

from an engineering perspective, connecting a servo to the controls of an existing vehicle (auto-tranny jeep for example) is trivial

any engineer can create an electromechanical link between a computer output, and a shaft that needs to be precisely turned, or a thottle cable that needs to be pulled.

all that technology exists now - its doesnt have to be effecient or cheap - you only need to build one to win the contest, and you only have to run it for 10 hours

TELLING your servo controlled steering which way to turn, and how much - that is what earns you the $1Million prize.

and there is a lot of existing technology out there right now that is also off the shelf - for the naiviagtion part of it:

GPS - will tell you where you are very precisely, and will tell you which way to turn to get to your next waypoint (much more precisely) it will also tell you how far away it is, how fast you are going, and how long its going to take you to get there - you can buy all this for about $200 today.

Range finders: laser, ultra sound, radar.... will tell you whats immediately around you, how far away it is, what direction, how fast its moving - this technology is available off the shelf.

Cameras: 2D or 3D - visable light, infar-red (sees through smoke and dust!) auto focusing - auto exposure - prices start at $50

portable computer equipment: take your pic - you can buy laptops on ebay for $100 that have more computational power than the space shuttle did the first time it flew.

There is very little invention that would be required to design this machine - its mostly an integration problem - taking different subsystems and making them work together to acheive the desired functionality.

Being on a FIRST team, you understand all this - right? You just need to come up with the right 'kit of parts' and integrate them.

Next time you take a ride in a car, or the school bus, look out the front window and imagine YOU are the DARPA machine, driving on the road - squint your eyes down and think about the commands you would have to send to the vehicle

how much info do you need to process? how fast do you need to respond.

I think you will be surprized how easy this task could be - when you break it down to its bare essentials!

just a few points...

1) a project of this magnitude will never truly be easy, even for FIRSTers

2) This is a challenge that may or may not require innovation where the vehicle is concerned, so let's not discount that option

3) What we say and what we can actually do may be very different

Engineering Golden Rule # 17:

functionally ANYTHING is possible

[given enough time, money and resources]

Except acquiring the legendary material unobtanium...

I believe I have found it in the form of RC car shock shafts. [link] It appears to be some blend of titanium carbonitride. Hrmmm.

I wonder if the above products will really make electrical energy from heat and be able to sustain high pressures like in the movie The Core?:D

You guys are making this to hard. Use simple answers to that way it is easy to fix problems later. I have answers to some of the problems we would incure but i a waiting to see if a team is assembled to work on the project. 2nd i would rather not tell everyone because you do not know who else is reading this wedsite.

Team
 

Now that someone said the magic word...........

1] I am in NW AZ (120 miles from Las vagus)

2] Have access to largest machine-shop in AZ

3] Small 4x4 trucks are affordable

4] Back ground in Mach/Elec/Hyd/Industrial Controls

Looking for REAL Serious people

???????????
 

NO TAKERS???

Not even a Reply????

No Comments??????

Well...i would assume that most are busy, but I am indeed interested

what about the omni wheel???

count me in, I'll build the vehicle, you guys can do the navigation! seriously.....it really isn't my forte

First let me say I do not have the knowledge to tell you how to build the navagation, I do however think I have enough knowledge of the mechanical end to do that part. I will not be able to actually help you with the build, so either take the advice, modify it, or leave it. :D

First of all, you do need to re-invent the wheel. If a professional team can build a machine that can navigate the course properly then you can bet it will be done in less than 10 hours. How, you may ask, it is simple. The vehicle will be much lighter and more aerodynamic than a normal car. For those saying you need an extra large gas tank, realise that with a lighter, better shaped vehicle, without the safety things added, you can get much better gas milage.

Use large tires, for most of the race you will not need lots of power (maybe a steep hill). Remember your vehicle is light.

high vs low center of gravity: this one is tricky, you don't know what obsticles are going to be on the course. I would try to go with a low one that can roll up so as not to get stuck on obsticles. What i mean by roll up the front of the vehicle would have wheels on it that are small but when force is applied to the front of them at x height or lower it rolls, thus lifting the main body of your vehicle. The problem with this it will require extra power out of your engine.

Definately use some sort of gassoline, don't even bother trying to go electric, hybrid, solar (rainy day in the desert for this would really suck), or some sort of refill.

40mph will not win this competition, try to go around 60mph in the desert, and 80+ on the road.

Have fun and post the results