Think...about the bad things
October 8, 2005 3:11 AM   Subscribe

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]
posted by Ogre Lawless (18 comments total)
 
Via Cardhouse where he describes the second clip as having "almost perfect comic timing".
posted by Ogre Lawless at 3:13 AM on October 8, 2005


Is this being televised or webcast at all? (Live, that is).
posted by killdevil at 7:24 AM on October 8, 2005


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.
posted by mondo dentro at 8:04 AM on October 8, 2005


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.
posted by Phantomx at 8:51 AM on October 8, 2005


Wow, that flash app is truly fantastic. I wish it had webcam feeds from the bots, or of the tricky parts of the course.
posted by ulotrichous at 9:10 AM on October 8, 2005


Since the server is mefi'd, coralized video links:
first, second
posted by dhartung at 10:02 AM on October 8, 2005


"almost perfect comic timing".

Hmm, that would have to be a lot more perfect to justify the two hour download.
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:09 AM on October 8, 2005


It appeared to be desperately trying to steer *towards* that parked vehicle.
posted by carter at 10:42 AM on October 8, 2005


Hmm, Stanford's at 125 (of 132) miles already, and a couple more teams are close behind. Quite the improvement this year.
posted by bobo123 at 1:31 PM on October 8, 2005


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?
posted by zpousman at 1:38 PM on October 8, 2005


Amazing how much better they did in one year. Did the motorcycle team try again?
posted by smackfu at 2:15 PM on October 8, 2005


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.
posted by bobo123 at 2:44 PM on October 8, 2005


I hear next year the bots will need to contend with IEDs and simulated insurgents.
posted by ulotrichous at 3:15 PM on October 8, 2005


I'd rather have a robot blown-up than a soldier.
posted by smackfu at 5:48 PM on October 8, 2005


I'd rather have a robot blow up civilians than a soldier.
posted by intermod at 9:10 PM on October 8, 2005


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...
posted by mhh5 at 11:05 PM on October 8, 2005


Right. Don't bet on Princeton—they're just performing at the top of the pack.
posted by oaf at 12:06 AM on October 9, 2005


Zing! You got me Oaf! Ten miles on course and a nineteenth place finish of the 23-entry pack was a superlative finish.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 12:54 PM on October 10, 2005


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