October 4, 2006

Can talk and drive at the same time

Last year, the winner got $2,000,000. In 2007, the winners get a trophy.

Eleven teams received DARPA funding to compete in another race between autonomous robotic vehicles. One of the fav's will be "Stanley" from Stanford University, shown here with team leader Sebastian Thrun.

The obstacle laden course is 60 miles of conventional roadway. The stock vehicles will be required to find their way around parked cars, power poles, bicycles, tires, street signs, tables & chairs, cardboard boxes, you name it. All while obeying traffic laws.

The robots will have to mind their manners in moving traffic, stay in their appropriate lane while passing or going around corners or through traffic circles. The purpose is to create a working model for military supply vehicles. For the expense, DARPA gets licensing privileges.

Last year, Stanley was the victor in a driverless 132 mile race through the Mojave desert.

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