| Everyone can appreciate a good race, well, | | | | monitor the progress of their entry through the |
| maybe almost anyone. Regardless, the speed, the | | | | race, but they are not allowed to interfere with |
| rush and the breathtaking sight of vehicles moving | | | | the performance of this vehicle. This race is |
| gracefully and powerfully over courses has been a | | | | entirely focused on the cars themselves. |
| source of astonishment and amusement for | | | | Using a variety of input devices such as cameras, |
| sports fans all over the world. Beyond the cars, | | | | global positioning satellite systems, radar, infra-red |
| the tires, the engines, the gas and the entire buzz, | | | | and other technologies, the cars must drive, |
| almost all race enthusiasts will agree, it is not the | | | | navigate and find their way first to the goal. As |
| car, but it is the driver that wins the race. Indeed, | | | | impossible as it may sound, they do. The DARPA |
| it is the human element of having a driver making | | | | Grand Challenge is a sight to behold for both race |
| decisions as to how to approach a tight curve or | | | | sports fans and tech buffs alike. This event |
| deep slope or a simple turn that makes each one | | | | features the latest the most innovative ideas and |
| different and fun to watch. | | | | design for cars of the future. |
| So what happens when you make a race of cars | | | | The application of various technologies in cars is |
| and remove the drivers? Enter the DARPA Grand | | | | incomparable when considering the entries to the |
| Challenge. The initials stand for Defense Advanced | | | | DARPA Grand Challenge. Vehicles utilize both the |
| Research Projects Agency, which is basically a | | | | latest in existing technology and also in |
| government agency that focuses on the | | | | experimental technology as well. There are vast |
| research, development and creation of new | | | | innovations in terms of navigation tools and also in |
| technology. The DARPA Grand Challenge | | | | the gathering and processing of data for use in |
| however, is a race; a race for cars without | | | | transportation. |
| drivers. In an effort to develop better artificial | | | | Unmanned Courses for the Unmanned Race |
| intelligence and also enhance the technology of | | | | The race itself is challenging, starting from simple |
| self-driving vehicles, this tournament is held | | | | tracks and recently stretching to urban looking |
| annually in order to determine what kind of | | | | locations, the cars must be able to detect and |
| control system works best for unmanned and | | | | avoid not only obstacles but also each other. The |
| autonomous vehicles. | | | | vehicles will not have any form of human |
| Autonomously Awesome | | | | interference or control making it a completely |
| There are no professional athletes in this race. | | | | under the control of artificial intelligence systems. |
| The competitors are usually teams of | | | | The vehicles are marked according to |
| programmers, engineers and system developers | | | | performance in speed, maneuvering and coping |
| from various institutions and colleges, each | | | | the driving rules and safety measures. A car wins |
| creating their own unique artificial intelligence | | | | by being the first to reach the goal safely. This |
| system and vehicle. In the actual race, the cars | | | | race is a testament to human ingenuity and |
| left to fend for themselves in a race to a goal. All | | | | innovation. |
| the developing teams can do is stay back and | | | | |