Robot Race
Driverless VW wins $2 million robot race: Stanley a Volkswagen Touareg modified by a team from Stanford University took 6 hours 53 minutes to complete the 132-mile course and take first prize in the The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s [DARPA] Grand Challenge Race through a course in the Mojave Desert.
In second place was a red Humvee from Carnegie Mellon University called Sandstorm, followed by a customized Hummer called H1ghlander. Coming in fourth was a Ford Escape Hybrid named Kat-5, designed by students in Metairie, Louisiana, who lost about a week of practice and some lost their homes when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.
The vehicles were totally autonomous, not remotely controlled, and had to deal with natural and man-made obstacles.
This year 5 vehicles finished the course, while last year no vehicle was able to travel more than 8 miles before breaking down, or being blocked.
DARPA funds a lot of basic research that can result in useful things – like the Internet.
