DARPA Challenge Prize Money Restored

antispam_ben wrote to mention that, some three months later, DARPA has been able to find the money to offer cash prizes once again. The DARPA Urban Challenge will go forward next November with more than $3 Million on the line. From the article: "The race will see as many as 90 teams 'drive' an unmanned robotic road vehicle through city traffic, competing to finish a 60-mile course within six hours. Set for November 3 of next year, the challenge will call on robots to safely obey traffic laws, negotiate busy intersections, merge into moving traffic, avoid obstacles and navigate traffic circles. DARPA has yet to disclose the race location, but has said it will be in the western United States. The government research group didn't unveil the 2005 Grand Challenge location in the Mojave Desert until weeks before that race, in order to avoid giving any team an advantage."

No need for DARPA

[Kagura]

Just hit the cruise control, and go to sleep! It's a less expensive, and a whole lot more fun!

Re:Spooky

[DrunkenTerror]

They should get robots to drive the other cars too.

Yeah!

[Anonymous Coward]

DARPA San Andreas baby!

Actually, what I meant to say is that I'll be playing San Andreas in the automated vehicle while it safely navigates traffic--something I can no longer do after playing the GTA series. It is just too tempting to run down pedestrians and try to steal nicer and faster cars!

A city in the Western US...

[ductonius]

... road vehicle through city traffic, ... it will be in the western United States

Will additional points be awarded if they successfully navigate the LA aqueducts, find Sarah Conner?

Traffic circles?!

[Qzukk]

navigate traffic circles.

No American is going to win this one...

Robust policy needed

[Baldrson]

DARPA presumably lost its granting authority with the passage of a congressional act--the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007--which gave money-granting power to another government agency, Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. So at the time, instead of awarding $2 million for first prize, $500,000 for second and $250,000 for third, DARPA said it would simply give out trophies to the three finalists.

But after much complaint from contestants, Kenneth Krieg, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, approved the prize money.

Policy that is so prone to failure is about as ridiculous as a system that cuts off funding to an entire branch of the military if someone tweaks some minor policy somewhere.

These prize awards aren't just some minor toy program -- they are the future of technology development which means defense preparedness. Maybe there are some radical Muslim cleric moles posing as policy makers. Oh well... Islam isn't as bad as some theocracies.

Re:Robust policy needed

[ErikZ]

Racism?

Well then, we should be easily able to cure Muslims by finding the gene that makes them turn to Islam. A little genetic engineering and *bam*! No more Muslim gene.

Please look up the word "Racism" before you embarrass yourself any further.

Stay away from this one!

[lemaymd]

If I were a contestant, I would make sure my vehicle stays out of the way of Oshkosh Truck's entry! http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge/Teams/Track_A_ Teams/TeamOshkoshTruck.asp [darpa.mil]

Re:Spooky

[Dean Hougen]

The other other vehicles allowed on the course will be [driven by] professional drivers.

Sure, in the actual competition. But in the individual team practice sessions at their home institutions? Grad students. Don't deny it.

Dean