NEVADA DESERT: Computers, start your engines; Stanford team apparent winners in robot car race

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | October 9th, 2005 | Tom Abate

[Shuttle Shucker]

"Stanford engineers steered the world toward a new era of driverless vehicles Saturday when their robotic Volkswagen SUV was the first to cross the finish line after a 132-mile race across the Nevada desert...The best showing last year was turned in by a Carnegie Mellon robo-Hummer nicknamed Sandstorm, which went just 7.4 miles in that 142-mile course before it strayed off the road and spun its wheels until the rubber burned. Yet even that ignoble finish fired the imaginations of inventors and hobbyists, who responded in even greater numbers to DARPA's 2005 challenge. In contrast to the 15 teams that raced robots last year, 195 teams applied for starting positions in this year's race. Carnegie Mellon re-entered Sandstorm and a second Hummer, called Highlander. DARPA let 43 teams compete in elimination trials that preceded the race and thinned the field down to the 23 driverless vehicles that began Saturday's race."

[SuziQ]

Carnegie Mellon re-entered Sandstorm and a second Hummer, called Highlander.

This is not the car we saw at CMU, is it?

[drt1]

In an ideal world this would be the way to go but, given that actual demonstrations of performance and competence would leave very little for the Pols to manipulate and hand out to their friends/contributors, I doubt if we'll ever see such a method of awarding Gov't contracts. :-(

[Lester Moore]

but robots don't require health insurance and paid

Nor would DOT hours of driving/rest rules apply and if they outsource the monitoring of trucks overseas somewhere for 1/10 the U.S. costs why would any U.S. citizens be needed for anything other than lumping for $1 per thousand lbs.

[Shuttle Shucker]

If the media's not mentioning a scandal somehow means there isn't one, what do you frequent these forums for?

[Wiz]

Breaking news: The last team running, Team TerraMax finished the race. Five teams, including Team TerraMax, made it to the goal, out of the 23.

[Shuttle Shucker]

We CAN make this means of procurement spread throughout our federal government if our elected officials (etc.) think they can gain more votes by getting in front of this winning issue prior to next month's elections (and afterwards, too). Have at it, if you care about our country's well-being (and want cures for cancer to emerge, or for AIDS, or simply want the price of launching into space to fall substantially):

United States House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov


United States Senate:

http://www.senate.gov

These toll-free numbers to the Capitol Hill switchboard
may still work:

*1-800-648-3516

*1-877-762-8762

Congressional record online:

http://thomas.loc.gov

The White House:

http://www.whitehouse.gov

White House comment line #: 202-456-1111.
If you get a live voice and ask for the person's name,
they might try harder to get your message
taken seriously by the appropriate people.

Also:

U.S. Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov

[Shuttle Shucker]

That's five better than the last time.

[Shuttle Shucker]

I bet the feds are HATING this string of surprising prizes-related successes. Talk about outsourcing truck drivers....with prizes we can outsource the R&D feds!

[trickyricky]

robots don't require health insurance and paid vacations

I have news for you.
Truckers may require health insurance and paid vacations,
but that doesn't necessarily mean they get them.
I don't. So I think I can remain competitive with Robo-trucker,
at least until they come up with immigrant Robo-trucker.

[hedgetrimmer]

NASA's hands are very much tied because of a UN treaty signed on 10 October 1967-- Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies

When you ask why our government agencies no longer function as promoters of liberty and no longer reflect the will of free Americans, you need look no further than the international treaties and trade agreements signed by our government to find out why.

For those who say the United Nations has no influence on the American people, or our government, thats hogwash! UN agencies make policy and our government enforces it in all aspects of our political and economic system.

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
International Space Law

[Shuttle Shucker]

Those don't appear to prohibit PRIVATE entities from owning property in space, though... However, the cost of launching remains too expensive for us to get to find out. But if NASA's politically forced to offer the first, ever, government-sponsored launch-related prizes...

[Shuttle Shucker]

Those don't appear to prohibit PRIVATE entities from owning property in space, though... However, the cost of launching remains too expensive for us to get to find out. But if NASA's politically forced to offer the first, ever, government-sponsored launch-related prizes...

[Lead Moderator]

To prevent duplication, please do not alter the heading. Thanks.

[John Jamieson]

Let me guess you think Burt Ratan has made it past 1955, and the Space Elevator is practical.

I would guess that you have no technical education and are talking just to talk.

PS. I'm one of FR's biggest NASA critics, but what do I know about the Shuttle, I only worked on it for the first 75 or so shots.

[Shuttle Shucker]

I'd feel defensive too. Think of all the wasted tax dollars...

[John Jamieson]

Compared what other Space Program?

Yes, NASA made mistakes, some I even knew of at the time. However who's done the equivalent things better?

Maybe space stuff is just really hard, not easy.

[wyattearp]

If there isn't a scandal just because you think that there is, what do you frequent these forums for? To make them up?

[John Jamieson]

I think we have a professional liberal whiner in our midst.

[John Jamieson]

Just what would you have spent that .5 to 1% of taxes on?

[wyattearp]

It certainly appears that way. The word "NASA" is mentioned, and it's a'ranting we will go.