Posted on 08/16/2003 6:10:52 PM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK
DARPA intends to conduct a challenge of autonomous ground vehicles between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in March of 2004. A cash award of $1 million will be granted to the team that fields the first vehicle to complete the designated route within a specified time limit. The purpose of the challenge is to leverage American ingenuity to accelerate the development of autonomous vehicle technologies that can be applied to military requirements. Many of the details of the event are being developed, and new information will be posted to this web site as soon as possible.
The current version of the Grand Challenge Rules has been substantially modified to reflect the feedback from many potential entrants. Thank you for your participation in making this event a safe and exciting milestone in the development of robotic technology. Although there are many subtle changes and you are encouraged to read the rules in detail, there are four major items to be highlighted:
1. The maximum corrected time to receive the Grand Challenge Prize is now ten hours.
2. The participating teams are not required to provide a Safety Vehicle. DARPA will take responsibility for oversight of all vehicles on the Challenge Route.
3. The participating teams are not required to develop an Emergency-Stop system. DARPA will provide and operate the E-stop for all teams.
4. There is no specific requirement for general liability insurance for individual teams.
As you move forward in your Challenge Vehicle development, please contact us if these rules impede legitimate approaches that meet the goals of the Grand Challenge so that we can discuss appropriate modification. Other comments on the general administration of the event may not receive a response so that we may focus appropriate attention on technical development.
On the Web: http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge
Toll free: 866 DARPA-GC (1-866-327-7242)
Grand Challenge Inquiries and Information: grandchallenge@darpa.mil
Website Issues and Feedback: moderator@grandchallenge.org
Lol, To make a long story short, they invented the Internet.
Wouldn't that be Al Gore's website?
Oh, that DARPA.
NASA makes at least a token reference to finally offering competitive prizes within its FY 2003 budget request in the 3rd paragraph of page 18 (of 21) at http://ifmp.nasa.gov/codeb/budget2003/02-Agency_Summary.pdf :
"Funds for announced prizes otherwize authorized shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until the prize is claimed or the offer is withdrawn."
LA to LAV. Some parts via road, other parts offroad. Quickest to reach the destination wins $1 Million. No second prize.No driver allowed. No remote control. No limits on sizes or types of vehicles, other than they can't fly.
Sweet!
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