Desert foils robot race
A $US1 million race across a southern California desert by driverless robots ended today after all 15 entries either broke down or withdrew, a race official said.
Two of the entries covered about 11 kilometres of the roughly 240 kilometre course in the Mojave Desert while eight failed to make it to the 1,500 metre mark. Others crashed seconds after starting.
The race ended after the final four competitors were disabled, said Colonel Jose Negron, race program manager. Competitors suffered a variety of problems that included stuck brakes, broken axles, rollovers and malfunctioning satellite navigation equipment.
One six-wheeled robot built by a Louisiana team was disqualified after it became entangled in barbed wire.
"It's a tough challenge - it's a grand challenge - you can always bet that it's not doable. But if you don't push the limits, you can't learn," said Ensco Inc engineer Venkatesh Vasudevan, shortly after his company's entry rolled onto its side several hundred yards from the starting gate.
The Pentagon's research and development agency planned to award $US1 million ($A1.36 million)to the first team whose microcircuit-and-sensor-studded vehicle could cover the roughly 240 kilometre course in less than 10 hours.
The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency was sponsoring the Grand Challenge to foster development of autonomous vehicles that could be used in combat. Defence officials foresee using the driverless, remote control-free robots to ferry supplies in war zones.
One competitor said the goal wasn't necessarily to complete the course.
"From my opinion, it's always been a question of how far you can get," said Palos Verdes High School sophomore Kevin Webb, 16. His school's entry, a modified Acura SUV, hit a barrier shortly after crossing the starting line.
Of the 21 teams that attempted to qualify over four days of trials earlier this week, just seven completed a flat 2.2 kilometre obstacle course at the California Speedway in Fontana, east of Los Angeles.
Race organisers deployed eight to 10 tow trucks along the route in anticipation of breakdowns.
The first of the 15 entries out of the gate was Carnegie Mellon University's converted Humvee, which took off at a fast clip but stalled after half an hour.
"It is out of the race," said Carnegie Mellon senior Nick Miller, 22, a member of the team that had been the early favourite.
The defence agency spent $US13 million ($A17.7 million) on the race. It estimates competitors laid out four to five times that amount developing their entries, which rely on global positioning satellites as well as a variety of sensors, lasers, radar and cameras to orient themselves and detect and avoid obstacles.
Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon said his school's vehicle cost approximately $US3 million ($A4.08 million), which was contributed by dozens of corporate sponsors.
With the on-and-off-road race halted today, the agency will host another contest, probably in 2006.
Source: The Age
A $US1 million race across a southern California desert by driverless robots ended today after all 15 entries either broke down or withdrew, a race official said.
Two of the entries covered about 11 kilometres of the roughly 240 kilometre course in the Mojave Desert while eight failed to make it to the 1,500 metre mark. Others crashed seconds after starting.
The race ended after the final four competitors were disabled, said Colonel Jose Negron, race program manager. Competitors suffered a variety of problems that included stuck brakes, broken axles, rollovers and malfunctioning satellite navigation equipment.
One six-wheeled robot built by a Louisiana team was disqualified after it became entangled in barbed wire.
"It's a tough challenge - it's a grand challenge - you can always bet that it's not doable. But if you don't push the limits, you can't learn," said Ensco Inc engineer Venkatesh Vasudevan, shortly after his company's entry rolled onto its side several hundred yards from the starting gate.
The Pentagon's research and development agency planned to award $US1 million ($A1.36 million)to the first team whose microcircuit-and-sensor-studded vehicle could cover the roughly 240 kilometre course in less than 10 hours.
The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency was sponsoring the Grand Challenge to foster development of autonomous vehicles that could be used in combat. Defence officials foresee using the driverless, remote control-free robots to ferry supplies in war zones.
One competitor said the goal wasn't necessarily to complete the course.
"From my opinion, it's always been a question of how far you can get," said Palos Verdes High School sophomore Kevin Webb, 16. His school's entry, a modified Acura SUV, hit a barrier shortly after crossing the starting line.
Of the 21 teams that attempted to qualify over four days of trials earlier this week, just seven completed a flat 2.2 kilometre obstacle course at the California Speedway in Fontana, east of Los Angeles.
Race organisers deployed eight to 10 tow trucks along the route in anticipation of breakdowns.
The first of the 15 entries out of the gate was Carnegie Mellon University's converted Humvee, which took off at a fast clip but stalled after half an hour.
"It is out of the race," said Carnegie Mellon senior Nick Miller, 22, a member of the team that had been the early favourite.
The defence agency spent $US13 million ($A17.7 million) on the race. It estimates competitors laid out four to five times that amount developing their entries, which rely on global positioning satellites as well as a variety of sensors, lasers, radar and cameras to orient themselves and detect and avoid obstacles.
Carnegie Mellon President Jared Cohon said his school's vehicle cost approximately $US3 million ($A4.08 million), which was contributed by dozens of corporate sponsors.
With the on-and-off-road race halted today, the agency will host another contest, probably in 2006.
Source: The Age