Autonomous vehicles to race L.A. to Las Vegas

DARPA web site ^ | September 9, 2002 | DARPA

[Lokibob]

DARPA intends to conduct a race of autonomous ground vehicles from the vicinity of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in 2004. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner. The purpose of the race is to encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements.

[dalereed]

I've never used any kind of drug in my life!

The LV Reno is an unpublicized race with a $100k entry fee for the rich where winner takes all.

I haven't heard about it since I was involved in racing in the late 50s and early 60s but it was for real. I have no idea if they still run it or not.

[Jonah Hex]

But will they stop at the world's largest thermometer in Baker?

(grin)

[discostu]

Do they have different software, preferably written in different languages? It would be safer if the couldn't all run into the same bug at the same time. Yes, I have that little trust for my compatriots.

[Jhoffa_]

[Jhoffa_]

I think you posted #10 to the wrong thread Dale.

[Lokibob]

If it is too small, it can't go the milage (what is it, 500 miles or so)? These suckers can be refueled, but no human can do it. It has to refuel it's self.

If it is too big, it can't go thru some of the areas (nor on the roads).

It must stay on the ground (can't be airborne more than 5 seconds).

Flame throwers, axes, oil, hand grenades, etc can't be used against other vehicles, chase cars or judges. (this rule takes the fun out of it)

[Jhoffa_]

LOL!

No hand grenades? Oh Damn!

No races for me, I will just stick to the living room floor if I can't use hand grenades..

[dalereed]

You're so right!

[Lokibob]

The rules say that the vehicles must be environmentally safe. But get this: As an example of what NOT to do under this rule is use a flame thrower to burn down a tree that is in the way.

[DannyTN]

The only thing less reliable than computers is man.

The technology will advance to where the computer driven cars are safer than cars driven by man. You may not trust them, and I will certainly be hesitant.

But good grief, look at mans record on driving cars. Look at the billions of costs of auto accidents.

Yes I trust myself more than a computer, but I trust the computer more than I trust you.

[Jhoffa_]

I can see that.

A mortar is obviously the way to go..

[Drippy]

I'm curious are these going to be scale model cars or full size units?

[Imal]

So dalereed, what kind of weed you been doin'?

Smokin' some primo rebar, from the looks of it. ;^)

[Physicist]

According to the rules, do the vehicles have to stick to the road and obey speed limits?

It also raises an interesting legal question: should the vehicle exceed speed limits, who would be served with the ticket? Laws against speeding are enforced against the driver, not against the owner of the vehicle. Hmm...

[Lokibob]

any size, but obviously, a model car can't go 500 miles with a computer load, and a big honker has the same problem plus avoiding obstacles.

I'd guess most will be dune buggy size, but that is only a guess.

[Lokibob]

apparently, 1/2 off-road, 1/2 on roads.

Closed course. You need 2 vehicles, a chase car will be in visual contact with the autonomous vehicle.

[Drippy]

"Obedience to traffic signs, signals, conventions, and rules is not required."

Sounds like alot of fun to me.

[Governor William J. LePetomane]

My money is on this guy...

[Abcdefg]

No offense, but I don't believe it. There is no way unmanned vehicles are going to be turned loose where they could hurt someone.

[discostu]

It's really a matter of infrastructure, we could do it right now (could have done it a while ago) but the infrastructure is gonna cost a mint. On top of that there has to be a major change in America's mentality.

You can trust other drivers more than the computer for one simple reason: the other driver has a reason to try to avoid an accident. Software has no vested self interest, if it screws up and a bunch of cars crash all it matters for the computer is that there's now a bottleneck it has to route other traffic around. People are also better at dealing with the random occurances that screw life up, like blown down trees, grid killing lightning strikes, and jackass pedestrians.

When you get right down to it, if you're gonna wind up in a head on collision wouldn't you rather there be a good chance the person responsible would die in the accident, rather than be 4 states away and not even know it happened? Really when you think of the travel miles involves driving is very safe and the number of accidents is really low. Of course if you REALLY don't want to be on the road with people take the train, Willie Green will be more than happy to point you to the best rail systems in the country.