The DARPA Urban Challenge (robotics)

I love things like "Junkyard Wars"... but find things like "robot wars" to be somewhat boring (those are more remote controlled vehicles than true robots.) If you're the same kind of tech junkie as I am, then you've watched the Discovery special on the DARPA challenge to have full sized vehicles travel a road through the desert. Contenders included a motorcycle, a number of cars, and at least one very large truck.

The second challenge -- "The Urban Challenge" -- takes place this year. Teams have been announced and if you live in the area you are invited to go see it -- free -- on November 7th, 2007!

Here's the general announcement:
www.darpa.mil...

Here's the list of teams (some pretty high powered groups here!)
www.darpa.mil...

...and just in case you can't get enough of this stuff, here's their forum:
dtsn.darpa.mil...

That's amazing!

Sadly I didn't get to see any of the first challenge, but you can guarantee I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Watching autonomous vehicles in action is an amazing thing. I wish I could be there for the live shows.

Amazing stuff. Thanks!