DARPA Autonomous Vehicle Race Proves What's Possible

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2005 – When five unmanned vehicles crossed the finish line last weekend after a 132-mile race through the Mojave Desert, they signaled more than just a technological breakthrough.

"Stanley," the winning autonomous vehicle in the DARPA Grand Challenge, nears the finish line in the Mojave Desert on Oct. 8. DARPA photo

"These vehicles haven't just achieved world records, they've made history," said Tony Tether, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, as the DARPA Grand Challenge concluded in Primm, Nev.

Four of the finishers crossed the finish line Oct. 8 and the fifth, the following day.

The DARPA Grand Challenge was the first race of its kind in which autonomous ground vehicles used nothing but onboard sensors and navigation equipment to steer themselves along the desert course in under 10 hours. And unlike traditional vehicle races that include mostly straights and curves, this race included tunnels, mountain switchbacks, lake beds and on- and off-road stretches - similar to routes typical military convoys follow. Walker said the race demonstrated once and for all that autonomous vehicles are indeed capable of traveling long distances over difficult terrain at high enough speeds to be "tactically relevant."
Five autonomous vehicles successfully completed the DARPA Grand Challenge, led by "Stanley," the Stanford University team's entry that finished the course in 6 hours, 53 minutes and 58 seconds, Walker said.
Five autonomous vehicles successfully completed the DARPA Grand Challenge, led by "Stanley," the Stanford University team's entry that finished the course in 6 hours, 53 minutes and 58 seconds, Walker said.
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Wow this just proves that the battlefield will be radically changing soon. I think these vehicles could be used as scouts, and surveliance vehicles, just like the first UAVs were. Any thoughs?

Originally posted by blue cell
Wow this just proves that the battlefield will be radically changing soon. I think these vehicles could be used as scouts, and surveliance vehicles, just like the first UAVs were. Any thoughs?

Changing soon? I doubt it. As long as most of the cargo space the (large) winning vehicles offered has to be used for the electronics, these systems are far from being practicable. The only realistic possibility I see is thatremote controlled vehicles get equipped with a backup system if the steering datalink fails, some sort of autopilot that automatically finds and follows a return course as soon as the input ceases.

dis is wats gonna happen as technology progress. imagine the U.S. unleashing these babies out on their own.

Originally posted by deltaboy

dis is wats gonna happen as technology progress. imagine the U.S. unleashing these babies out on their own.

Johnny 5 is alive!!!

[edit on 10/20/05 by redmage]

Originally posted by deltaboy
..........
dis is wats gonna happen as technology progress. imagine the U.S. unleashing these babies out on their own.

If that was ever made, and place into operation, we just might as well see more wars

This would give fantastic ability for spec ops. Allowing you to drop in a vehicle, directed by pre-computed directions, abiltiy to change to a secondary route at the touch of a button, and no need to concentrate on driving in the dark. More attention to scanningthe horizon and preparing, less to worry about.

Very cool technology....

and soon we have a terminator style scenario on our hands