Robots to race across Mojave Desert as Pentagon offers $1 million prize

[thedrifter]

Posted on Mon, Aug. 25, 2003

Robots to race across Mojave Desert as Pentagon offers $1 million prize
Associated Press

EL MIRAGE DRY LAKE, Calif. - Something was burning even hotter than the Mojave Desert as Caltech students conducted test-runs of a robot they hope will be up to speed when they go after a $1 million prize offered by a Pentagon agency.

The Caltech team's enthusiasm remained high even after its four test drives last week of the robot, built from a stripped-down, computer-loaded Chevy Tahoe, were well below the speed needed to cover the route within 10 hours.

"This is the ultimate cool thing," said Haomiao Huang, 20, an electrical engineering student in charge of navigating sensors.

The robot vehicle, nicknamed Bob, reached speeds of as much as 15 mph, but had problems with steering, transmission and navigation. It was also evident at the end of one run that something inside was burning, although no smoke was visible, said student Jeff Lamb.

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, an arm of the Department of Defense, created the race it calls the Grand Challenge.

It is offering the $1 million in a push to develop technology for unmanned battlefield vehicles. It provides no funding for the participants, but the winner might also receive a contract to do further research or production, said Air Force Col. Jose Negron, who leads the DARPA project.

There are 49 entries so far for the March 13, 2004, race of 200 to 250 miles from Barstow to Las Vegas. The eventual number is expected to drop to about 20 after an October deadline to submit technical papers.

Teams won't know the exact route until two hours before race time. Then they must program the chosen path, over unpaved roads, snow-covered rocky surfaces and desert canyons, into on-board computers, push a button and let the unmanned machine make its way through an area with mountains that rise up to 8,000 feet.

If no robot finishes the race within the required 10 hours, no money will be paid. Another race could eventually be scheduled, however.

ON THE NET

DARPA Grand Challenge site: http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercuryne...ia/6615409.htm


Sempers,

Roger