World's Ugliest Robot Race V.2

[Conor Ryan]

Hey it looks like those driverless robots are back! In case you haven't heard yet in two weeks or so (October 8, 2005) the DARPA Grand Challenge will kick off again!

This year the stakes are higher, robots are smarter, and the trucks are uglier (supposedly) The prize was raised this year to $US 2,000,000, and they are giving them a tougher course. A field of 43 robots are set to compete against each other to be the fastest robot to complete the 175 mile course in under 10 hours.

Heres a quick overview of the rules from Wikipedia:
* The vehicle must travel autonomously on the ground in under ten hours.
* The vehicle must stay within the course boundaries as defined by a data file provided by DARPA.
* The vehicle may use GPS and other public signals.
* No control commands may be sent to the vehicle while en route.
* The vehicle must not intentionally touch any other competing vehicle.
* An autonomous service station is permitted at a checkpoint area approximately halfway between start and finish.

I think this is pretty cool, can't wait to watch them go at it, some of what happened last year was pretty funny. But it'd be intresting to see someone actually complete the challenge. If for some reason that doesn't happen, that stakes are $4 Million and there will be another round in 18 months or so.

More Info:
DARPA Grand Challenge Home
Grand Challenge By Wiki

Woot for 700th Post

[Cory]

Gotta wonder why they would make it tougher when nobody managed to complete a significant portion of it last year...

[Andrew Blair]

I think its probably somewhat of the same reason we don't repeat first setups. Even if we fail, we still want to be given a new challenge, seemingly impossible or not. The government is the same way, from the other end. They want teams to succeed, at a new challenge every year. And I suppose if i'm paying for the technology, I want a better product if I wait a year to get it. I know, the technology just isn't keeping up, but still.

[Conor Ryan]

From what I've read, Stanford and Carnegie Melon are favorites. The Stanford bot supposedly has gone through 200 miles of arizona desert by itself. And they aren't telling one how long it took them. Anyone willing to make a bet on whos gonna win? I'm going with Carnegie Melon's Red Team.

Also, if you get a chance theres a really cool resource on the DARPA site. All of the technical papers from last year's competition are available to read. Check it out pretty neat stuff.

And for the added bonus, the tracking site is now up here

[Adam Y.]

From what I've read, Stanford and Carnegie Melon are favorites. The Stanford bot supposedly has gone through 200 miles of arizona desert by itself. And they aren't telling one how long it took them. Anyone willing to make a bet on whos gonna win? I'm going with Carnegie Melon's Red Team.

Im betting five to one odds on a combination of either Murphy or the dessert.

[Andrew Blair]

does anyone know if a human driver attempted the route from last year? That would be interesting to hear about. I know the vehicles had to average like 20 miles an hour or something to win. Which is insane, and still is.

[Ian Curtis]

Apparently last year the most difficult part of the course was the first part, at least that's what Red said. After listening to him talk for nearly two hours and having seen the Humvee navigate a city street albeit an empty one, I'd put my money on Carniegie Melon. And the fact that since I own a Red Team Racing shirt, it'd be pretty cool to have a shirt from the team that wins the grand challenge.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Andrew Blair

does anyone know if a human driver attempted the route from last year? That would be interesting to hear about. I know the vehicles had to average like 20 miles an hour or something to win. Which is insane, and still is.

I recall reading in the rules that a commercial 4X4 truck can handle the route. And I guess it'd have to be passable by a driver of average skill for chase/recovery vehicles.

[Jimmy Holmes]

This is a article from the AP about it.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/09/29/r....ap/index.html

[Stu Bloom]

Here's an AP Release on Yahoo News with a picture of "IRV" (Indiana's Robotic Vehicle) offerred up by the Indy Robot Racing Team (The team I am on ). This article also has pictures of several of the other vehicles. Actually, the 43 teams currently in the running are going through a week-long qualifier on a special course set up in the infield of the California Speedway. On October 5 the top 20 will be announced and those will advance to the race in the dessert on October 8.

And to answer prior questions, yes, last year's course has been driven and videotaped by one of the teams (most teams used that video to help prepare for this year), and some teams claim to have run last year's course autonomously while preparing for this year.

If interested you can also get more details on IRV and the IRRT here and there is a nice brochure with all team pics and info, and details about the qualifier and race here

[Stu Bloom]

... AND ...

a couple of cool e-Cards featuring IRV - created by our webmaster ...

http://www.indyrobotracing.com/ecard/index.asp

http://www.core-network.com/download..._ecard3_v3.swf

Turn sound ON

[Stu Bloom]

IRV (Indiana's Robotic Vehicle) has still not completed the entire course after a second attempt today, but he improved significantly from yesterday's run. Flawlessly through the 35 foot long tunnel, then successfully past several more obstacles, but stopped by an old car placed on the course when he didn't quite get turned fast enough. He had slowed to maneuver around the car so the only damage was a busted tail light on the junker.

According to preliminary scoring IRV is about in the middle of the pack with more improvements expected and several more course runs scheduled (each team is supposed to get 6 scored runs).

As others have said, more info (including an informative brochure) is available at www.grandchallenge.org. That site will also provide live updates on race day (October 8). You can follow IRV's adventures at www.indyrobotracing.com/blog.

[KarenH]

Spelling Curmudgeon Pro Tem speaking:

I know DARPA is really delicious, but I don't think it's held in the dessert.

The desert is a big, empty place, which is why it's missing one S.

A delicious dessert often makes a mess, which is why it has two S's.

[Stu Bloom]

Thanks Karen

I'm generally a good speller ... those are a couple of good tricks to help remember the difference. I should be able to remember just by the fact that I have eaten way too many desserts in my time ...

[Jack Jones]

Hey Stu - it's not like it's the first time you made yourself an S