The US Government is to sponsor a the third
in a series of research projects for autonomous unmanned robot
cars, this time driving around a mock urban area.
The vehicles will be required to navigate around traffic and
pass other vehicles and drive within the road laws even stopping
at intersections and giving way at roundabouts. The vehicle will
be required to drive a 100 kilometre course to complete the
task.
The previous challenge in 2005 required the autonomous vehicle
to drive a 132 mile course through the Mojave Desert. Here they
had to avoid obstacles and drive through the harsh surrounds but
the 2007 course will be much more challenging and will require a
the next generation of robotics and computer logic to complete
the course.
The Government sponsorship is part of the DARAP (Defence
Advanced Research Project) which is working on producing robotic
vehicles for war zones and this competition will help research
and give great interest in further development of robotic self
driving vehicles.
First prize for the competition will be US$2 million so there is
plenty of interest from the engineering community from private
and public companies and universities.
