Comments on: Think...about the bad things

Think...about the bad things

Ogre Lawless — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 03:11:14 -0800

Perhaps you'll recall DARPA's Grand Challenge where autonomous vehicles competed in a off-road race for $1,000,000 but most barely made it off the starting blocks? Yeah, well, they are doing it again this year for $2 million this time. Just one thing: Don't bet on Princeton. [last two links .MOV]

By: Ogre Lawless

Ogre Lawless — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 03:13:38 -0800

Via Cardhouse where he describes the second clip as having "almost perfect comic timing".

By: killdevil

killdevil — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 07:24:58 -0800

Is this being televised or webcast at all? (Live, that is).

By: mondo dentro

mondo dentro — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 08:04:01 -0800

The only really amusing thing the videos was at the end of the second one, when the announcer says "Contact with the... rental car". That was perfect.

By: Phantomx

Phantomx — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 08:51:39 -0800

There were two Indianapolis based teams that were competing in the trials. Neither made it in, but apparently one had a really good vehicle. Their vehicle didn't make it because before their first run they took the vehicle out for some practice and loaded in the gps settings and whatnot, when it came time for their first trial there was an error between the newly loaded DARPA information and their existing program and so the location software 'reverted' back to the practice session's gps location. It immediately veered right (?) and slammed into a wall at 20-30 mph. They couldn't get it working right for a better qualifying run. Must've been pretty frustrating to see as a team member, but I'm sure it was pretty funny from a spectator's view.

By: ulotrichous

ulotrichous — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 09:10:09 -0800

Wow, that flash app is truly fantastic. I wish it had webcam feeds from the bots, or of the tricky parts of the course.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:02:35 -0800

Since the server is mefi'd, coralized video links: first, second

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:09:29 -0800

"almost perfect comic timing". Hmm, that would have to be a lot more perfect to justify the two hour download.

By: carter

carter — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 10:42:24 -0800

It appeared to be desperately trying to steer *towards* that parked vehicle.

By: bobo123

bobo123 — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 13:31:08 -0800

Hmm, Stanford's at 125 (of 132) miles already, and a couple more teams are close behind. Quite the improvement this year.

By: zpousman

zpousman — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 13:38:13 -0800

How long will it be until automatic drive is like automatic transmission? Probably about 10 years until it's released on a passenger car, but still, that's not very far away... Imagine the day when driving is like spinning your own yarns. Sure, you could do it, but why would you want to?

By: smackfu

smackfu — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 14:15:25 -0800

Amazing how much better they did in one year. Did the motorcycle team try again?

By: bobo123

bobo123 — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 14:44:40 -0800

Hard to tell who's in the lead from the site, Stanford's time keeps increasing even though they finished the race a while ago.

By: ulotrichous

ulotrichous — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 15:15:33 -0800

I hear next year the bots will need to contend with IEDs and simulated insurgents.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 17:48:47 -0800

I'd rather have a robot blown-up than a soldier.

By: intermod

intermod — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 21:10:40 -0800

I'd rather have a robot blow up civilians than a soldier.

By: mhh5

mhh5 — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 23:05:50 -0800

smackfu, IIRC, I think the motorcycle bot tried again, but it didn't make the final cut or something. I think the motorcycle bot added a feature to "get up" after falling this year...

By: oaf

oaf — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 00:06:31 -0800

Right. Don't bet on Princeton—they're just performing at the top of the pack.

By: Ogre Lawless

Ogre Lawless — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 12:54:35 -0800

Zing! You got me Oaf! Ten miles on course and a nineteenth place finish of the 23-entry pack was a superlative finish.