Fifteen Robots Compete in $1 Million Mojave Desert Race

Mar 13, 2004
Fifteen Robots Compete in $1 Million Mojave Desert Race
By Andrew Bridges
Associated Press Writer

BARSTOW, Calif. (AP) - The first of 15 driverless robots began trundling across the Mojave Desert on Saturday in an unprecedented race for $1 million in government-funded prize money.
First out of the gate was Carnegie Mellon University's converted Humvee, nicknamed Sandstorm, which took off at a fast clip. Within 15 minutes it had covered five miles of the roughly 150-mile course.

"That's amazing. It's moving. It's moving. For a million dollars, I'd move too," said spectator Arturo Martinez.

The vehicles were leaving the starting line at staggered times, racing against the clock rather than each other.

The Pentagon's research and development agency plans to award the money to the first team whose microcircuit-and-sensor-studded vehicle can cover the course in less than 10 hours, although those involved say it's unclear if any of the competitors would be able to claim the taxpayer-funded prize.

"I can't tell you today if the vehicles are going to go one mile or 201 miles," Tom Strat, deputy program manager for the race, said as scientists made last-minute adjustments to their robots Saturday morning.

Race organizers deployed eight to 10 tow trucks along the route in anticipation of breakdowns.

Of the 21 teams that attempted to qualify over four days of trials, just seven completed a flat, 1.36-mile obstacle course at the California Speedway in Fontana, east of Los Angeles.

Officials said the vehicles have to average 15 to 20 mph to finish in time.

"The tortoise will win this event. The rabbit will not win," said Col. Jose Negron, race program manager for DARPA, as the Pentagon agency is known.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is sponsoring the Grand Challenge to foster development of autonomous vehicles that could be used in combat. Defense officials foresee using the driverless, remote control-free robots to ferry supplies in war zones.

The agency spent $13 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 $3 million, which was contributed by dozens of corporate sponsors.

The on- and off-road course begins in Barstow and ends just across the California state line in Primm, Nev.

To ensure safety, the robots can pause during the race, stopping the 10-hour clock without penalty. That raises the possibility the competition could stretch into Sunday, officials said. A chase vehicle will tail each robot, with a judge ready to hit a kill switch if the robot goes astray.

"There are at least three or four who will have a very good chance of finishing the course; whether they finish it in 10 hours is another question," said DARPA director Tony Tether.

If no one finishes, the agency will host another contest, probably in 2006.
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On the Net: http://www.grandchallenge.org/

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