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ZL2VAL > TECHNO 15.03.04 11:58l 95 Lines 3569 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : C70640ZL2VAL
Read: GUEST OE7FMI
Subj: No race winning robots
Path: DB0FHN<DB0THA<DB0ERF<DB0ROF<DB0CWS<DB0ZDF<DB0LJ<DB0RES<ON0AR<LU6DTS<
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Sent: 040315/0933Z @:ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC #:37614 [New Plymouth] FBB7.00g
From: ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
To : TECHNO@WW
$1 Million Pentagon-Sponsored Robot Race Ends As All Entries Break Down
By Andrew Bridges
Associated Press
posted: 05:00 pm ET
13 March 2004
BARSTOW, California (AP) -- A $1 million race across a southern
California desert by driverless robots ended Saturday after all 15
entries either broke down or withdrew, a race official said.
Two of the entries covered about seven miles (11 kilometers) of the
roughly 150-mile (240-kilometer) course in the Mojave Desert while eight
failed to make it to the one-mile (1500 meter) mark. Others crashed
seconds after starting.
The race ended after the final four competitors were disabled, said Col.
Jose Negron, race program manager. Competitors suffered a variety of
problems that included stuck brakes, broken axles, rollovers and
malfunctioning satellite navigation equipment.
One six-wheeled robot built by a Louisiana team was disqualified after
it became entangled in barbed wire.
"It's a tough challenge -- it's a grand challenge -- you can always bet
that it's not doable. But if you don't push the limits, you can't
learn," said Ensco Inc. engineer Venkatesh Vasudevan, shortly after his
company's entry rolled onto its side several hundred yards from the
starting gate.
The Pentagon's research and development agency planned to award $1
million to the first team whose microcircuit-and-sensor-studded vehicle
could cover the roughly 150-mile course in less than 10 hours.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency was 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.
One competitor said the goal wasn't necessarily to complete the course.
"From my opinion, it's always been a question of how far you can get,"
said Palos Verdes High School sophomore Kevin Webb, 16. His school's
entry, a modified Acura SUV, hit a barrier shortly after crossing the
starting line.
Of the 21 teams that attempted to qualify over four days of trials
earlier this week, just seven completed a flat, 1.36-mile
(2.2-kilometer) obstacle course at the California Speedway in Fontana,
east of Los Angeles.
Race organizers deployed eight to 10 tow trucks along the route in
anticipation of breakdowns.
The first of the 15 entries out of the gate was Carnegie Mellon
University's converted Humvee, which took off at a fast clip but stalled
after half an hour.
"It is out of the race," said Carnegie Mellon senior Nick Miller, 22, a
member of the team that had been the early favorite.
The defense 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.
With the on- and off-road race halted Saturday, the agency will host
another contest, probably in 2006.
=========================
73 de Alan, (Sysop ZL2AB).
AX25:ZL2VAL@ZL2AB.#46.NZL.OC
APRS:!3903.34S/17406.45E]
IP :zl2val@qsl.net
Message timed: 22:26 on 2004-Mar-15 (NZT)
Message sent using WinPack-AGW V6.80
Points to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marriage
~~~~~~~~
If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word
you say, talk in your sleep.
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