DARPA's Urban Challenge set to roll Saturday with 11 robotic cars

Oh man, can you taste it? That oily titanium tang is the smack of robotic cars set for release Saturday in the DARPA Urban Challenge. The final event pits 11 vehicles in competition for a $2 million first, $1M second, and $500k third place prizes. The 60-mile course at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville CA must be successfully navigated in less than 6-hours while avoiding about 50 carbon-based drivers. Can Stanford repeat their 2005 Grand Challenge victory with "Junior" or will Carnegie Mellon's "Boss" (pictured) bust out a BFG-9000 in swift retribution? Tune in Saturday to find out.

[DickHardknocks @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:12AM]

Well, I for one, welcome our robotic Escalade ridinng Overlords and their 22 inch rimz.

[brad @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:27AM]

thats not an escalade...chevy tahoe

[fudgebutter @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:18AM]

brad, what do you think the Escalade is? A Tahoe for a special brand of idiot who wants to pay twice as much as the run of the mill idiot Tahoe buyer.

[John @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:21AM]

Just want to say Good luck to all. May someone actually do well enough so this technology can advance.

[Ron Smith @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:22AM]

Go Hokies! I watched their entry this summer driving around the parking lot where I park my truck (Since it was summer the lot was only about an eight full of what is about three football lengths of parking area, so they were far away from any parked cars) However, they are looking good!

[DickHardknocks @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:40AM]

No Sh*t

[a ham sandwich @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:34AM]

how come there was no coverage her of the world solar challenge? :P

http://www.wsc.org.au/

[chrismansley @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:41AM]

Tomshardware has some pretty extensive coverage and videos of the qualifying event crashes. http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/34594/123/

[aeo @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:44AM]

My best wishes are with team Mojavaton from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO. http://www.mojavaton.com/

Good luck guys!

[blackfeather @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:34PM]

I second that! Our computer system is in their truck. Intel dontated a pair of quad-core Xeons for us. Things were looking great for them, but only 11 teams made it to the finals.

[Scott @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:44AM]

but will they play doom?

[Matt @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:55AM]

Boss Robot SUV Test Drive video: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/robotics/4228634.html

[Alex @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:36PM]

there were supposed to be 20 finalists, but DARPA just decided to only take 11, leaving the rest - including NC State's sweet Lotus - out int he cold.

[Octagon @ Nov 2nd 2007 7:38PM]

Alex, the other vehicles didn't qualify. For the safety of the other robots, and the human drivers on the course, they were deemed unsuitable to continue on to the challenge. Team Axion slammed in to a human vehicle. Not tapped, not bumped, slammed. Other teams either managed to hit cars, barriers, or jump concrete dividers. Some were just too slow and considered a traffic hazard for the other robots and humans to navigate around.

Remember that on race day all the robots will be on the course at the same time. Required to handle other robots, human drivers, and obstacles. These are very large, very expensive vehicles. If Axion, or Lux slammed in to Junior or Boss, knocking them out of the race, there would be some... heated discussion. Most teams only have one robot, and if another robot wrecks it, then they're out of the competition. The hard work and effort of that team negated by the unsafe and unpredictable driving of an inferior machine. Something which is prevented by removing the obviously hazardous ones.

[John @ Nov 2nd 2007 4:14PM]

Sure wish one of the teams had added hydraulic support struts for legs and arms so the car could "stand up" at the finish line ala Transformers.

Can't wait for the runs to start tomorrow...

[armelo @ Nov 3rd 2007 8:06AM]

What channel are they broadcasting?