One other very important thing to consider...
If this submission is built and does win the competition, or places high enough to warrent additional examination by DARPA, a design that includes everything, even the kitchen sink, through the use of modularity, will win.
Remember, this competition is simple to drive (ha, simple...). Think 20 years into the future. This technology must realize between friend and foe, human being and tree, clear road and obstacle. Yeah, you don't need to go crazy now, but the whole idea is that you think ahead, to what would be needed. This is sponsered by DARPA, they don't want any half-assed solutions, they want something that will work, and that they can add to. Look at the TCP/IP protocol suite. It was never intended to be as widespread as it is now, but due to how it was built, including everything, that you would ever need, it has survived much longer than many other things in the computer world.
So yes, while my ideas and suggestions may be a bit overboard now, it's stuff you have to keep in mind. Don't throw it away just because you don't like me, my ideas, the fact that it's a Monday, that the sky is blue, etc. Well, I'll give it to you that it's a Monday, but nothing else
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