Robotic vehicles to race on city streets
Staff -- Control Engineering, 11/1/2006
Open enrollment increased the field for the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge to 89 teams. The “Track B” list drew 78 additions to the robotic vehicle race, which will be held Nov. 3, 2007, at an as-yet undisclosed location in the Western United States. The third Grand Challenge, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, charges enthusiasts from around the world to develop autonomous vehicle technology and makes extensive use of sensors and controls. Operation of the vehicles in the Urban Challenge will test robots’ ability to operate safely and effectively in populated areas.
Track B participants join the 11 Track A teams that were announced earlier and which will receive up to $1 million in technology development funds. Track B teams receive no funds, but compete equally with Track A teams to qualify for the final event. The vehicles will attempt to complete a 60-mile mock urban course through traffic in less than six hours, operating under their own computer-based control. To succeed, vehicles must obey traffic laws while merging into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles, negotiating busy intersections, and avoiding obstacles.
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