Stanford's "Junior" Volkswagen passes first DARPA test

While it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given that they've already won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, we're sure that the team from Stanford is still pretty stoked that they've passed the first test on the way to DARPA's upcoming Urban Challenge. Or, more specifically, that "Junior" the autonomous Volkswagen Passat passed the test. It apparently wasn't entirely smooth sailing though, as the car got stuck once on a course while passing a car, although it eventually managed to recover -- it never did push it past 15 mph though. As with the other contenders, however, Junior still has a ways to go before the big race, with another, more challenging test in store later this summer that'll narrow the field down to the top thirty.

[Photo courtesy of CNET]

[chaosrain @ Jun 15th 2007 12:58PM]

I find it both cool and spooky that Google is interested in licensing the final-product which comes out of Stanford's Urban Challenge project. Now that we've seen Google's efforts to provide street-level imaging, it is clear what their intention is for this technology. Google-bots will no longer conduct automated trolling of websites only, but will soon extend into the physical space where they will roll throughout cities and towns continually updating street-level imagery. It will take at least a generation before folks get used to looking over to the vehicle next to them at a stop light without being freaked out at the fact that there is no one behind the wheel.

[Jacob Kennedy @ Jun 15th 2007 1:02PM]

And how much effort would it be to mount a chain gun on the top of that oh so tough to spot Google van? Not much. They might have to hide it in the hump, though...

[Dave @ Jun 15th 2007 2:28PM]

"It will take at least a generation before folks get used to "

not to mention a hell of a lot of legislation.

[sean @ Jun 15th 2007 1:26PM]

Google Hits!

Is that coworker in contention for the same position as you? log on and take him out.

[tasteslikechicken @ Jun 15th 2007 2:00PM]

I think that this is quite interesting, especially with the addition of hybrid cars. Next year hybrids will likely make up 2%+ of the car market. At 2% they become "real" to all auto makers (at under 2% they show up in pie graphs as 5% "other" category along with natural gas and 100% ethanol cars and can be dismissed as hype). What's interesting about hybrids is that they're electric platforms. This enables regenerative braking, drive by wire and the ability to radically change body styling.
So... jump ahead 10 or 15 years the cost for the sensors and intelligence to finish the urban challenge have dropped in price by a factor of 50 to 250 because of Moore's law and another factor of 10-1000 because of mass manufacturing. What costs 20 million dollars in these cars now will cost $80-$40000 . We'll see this happen slowly, first as "smart" cruise control and self-parking, then as cars that "mostly" drive themselves. Eventually insurance actuaries will give discounts to people that "drive" these cars (especially with our aging population). Then cars will drive themselves, at this point owning a car will become just a big hastle (parking, maintenance, etc). An automated taxi service will be able to find you (via your cell phone), pick you up, and drop you off for less than it costs you to own your own vehicle (economics of scale will allow taxi companies to park, fuel, maintain and purchase their cars cheaper). Fewer cars will be on the road (per population) and anyone with a cell phone will be able to have transportation freedom (if the 12 year old needs to get to soccer practice, they can take themselves)

[McGinley @ Jun 15th 2007 2:07PM]

Zooom...

Thats the noise of your speech flying over my head...

[Don @ Jun 15th 2007 3:17PM]

Don't you mean "Zoom Zoom"?

I agree in general, but many (like me) *enjoy* driving. For us, it isn't all about saving money - it's also about driving well.

[wellingj @ Jun 15th 2007 10:58PM]

"This enables ... drive by wire and the ability to radically change body styling."

This has nothing to do with hybrid cars. And hybrid cars have nothing to do with AI...

...but the rest of you points are good =P

[tasteslikechicken @ Jun 15th 2007 7:14PM]

wellingj,

My belief here is that hybrid cars will move us toward electric cars with a smaller IC engine/fuel cell/replaceable battery rack, and that having electric cars will add this flexibility. I can now see that I was unclear about this, thanks for bringing it up.

[Shaun @ Jun 15th 2007 2:30PM]

Here is a video of the test
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2007/06/15/BUROBOCARTEST15.DTL&o=0

[Karim @ Jun 15th 2007 10:38PM]

Hey thanks for posting that video link. It was inspiring! It made me feel like I was in 1907 and was reading an article about how one day automobiles would replace horses :-)

When the rest of the news seems to be corruption and celebrity scandal and people in the Middle East killing each other, it's so freakin COOL to see someone *creating* technology that will benefit the world.

[BobTurbo @ Jun 16th 2007 5:43AM]

I just fell in love with the VW Passat. That car looks so nice! Definitely will be my next car.

[keese @ Jun 18th 2007 2:15AM]

@Shaun

Thanks for the video!

Incredible: The car is smaller than "Stanley" and still the front seats are free, rear seats most probably as well, the driving system is only in the trunk and not visible from the outside.

keese