Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

**Sean** · Oct 10, 2005, 01:10 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4322542.stm

Quote:

A team from Stanford University's School of Engineering has made motoring history, winning a $2m (£1.14m) prize in the process.

Its car, a Volkswagen Touareg nicknamed "Stanley", has become the first self-navigating vehicle to successfully complete the gruelling 131.6 mile (211km) cross-country Darpa Grand Challenge, a race for autonomous robot vehicles held in Nevada's Mojave desert.

Sebastian Thrun, leader of the winning team, predicted that one day all cars would be able to drive themselves.

But the real prize could be fewer US casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 2005 Grand Challenge - the world's only driver-less car race - was organised by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or Darpa, part of the US Department of Defense.

If we can take a logistics vehicle and drive it across an environment like that in Iraq and save lives that's worth a lot of technology investment.

Greg Young, ENSCO

The military's need for vehicles which can drive themselves is most pressing in Iraq, where US logistical and military convoys come under frequent attack by insurgents.

They did it this time. Pretty cool that they got these things to navigate that far with no human interaction...

Protostar · Oct 10, 2005, 01:54 am

That is pretty cool, though I wouldn't want a car driving me everywhere especially if it ran Microsoft windows. I don't think going 70 down a highway is the best place to get the blue screen of death or have to press ctrl/alt/del.

**Sean** · Oct 10, 2005, 09:35 am

Did you see the part of the article that says the US wants 1/3 of its military vehicles to be unmanned by 2015? Pretty crazy

5010 · Oct 10, 2005, 11:53 am

So the one that finally did it was a volkswagon. Go Herby!!

The military already has drones in space, air, and sea. Having drones on land completes the equation.

I'm not so optimistic on saving lives. The robots will require techs and mechanics and the enemy will just shift their strategy to attacking them so as to grind the machinery to a halt.

rcne · Oct 10, 2005, 12:29 pm

I was hoping for the Hummer, one thing for certain - these things are getting better each year.

Was it just last year that no machine was able to complete the entire course?

tman_ndsu08 · Oct 10, 2005, 02:05 pm

When do I get to by my self driving car?

I'd much rather do work, read the paper, eat breakfast, etc. without having to drive.

Resolute · Oct 10, 2005, 02:55 pm

Man, it worked this time? Haven't they been having this comp for 5 years (or something) with no winner? I'm very impressed.

It was a Tureg too. That's a great car.

Oct 10, 2005, 01:54 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Protostar Hardcore Capitalist Location: North Carolina Posts: 759	That is pretty cool, though I wouldn't want a car driving me everywhere especially if it ran Microsoft windows. I don't think going 70 down a highway is the best place to get the blue screen of death or have to press ctrl/alt/del. "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." . . . Susan B. Anthony

Oct 10, 2005, 09:35 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
Sean former overlord Location: New York Posts: 2,383	Did you see the part of the article that says the US wants 1/3 of its military vehicles to be unmanned by 2015? Pretty crazy So it goes

Oct 10, 2005, 11:53 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
5010 mostly harmless Location: USA Posts: 1,282	So the one that finally did it was a volkswagon. Go Herby!! The military already has drones in space, air, and sea. Having drones on land completes the equation. I'm not so optimistic on saving lives. The robots will require techs and mechanics and the enemy will just shift their strategy to attacking them so as to grind the machinery to a halt. - solo (my site)

Oct 10, 2005, 12:29 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
rcne Moderator/nobody Posts: 1,566	I was hoping for the Hummer, one thing for certain - these things are getting better each year. Was it just last year that no machine was able to complete the entire course? Live Long and Prosper (Genetics and Capitalism)

Oct 10, 2005, 02:55 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Resolute Molten Ash Posts: 27	Man, it worked this time? Haven't they been having this comp for 5 years (or something) with no winner? I'm very impressed. It was a Tureg too. That's a great car. I've spent a lifetime defending the flag and the law. Maybe I should have battled less - and questioned more. - Captain America

Oct 10, 2005, 02:05 pm	#6 (permalink) (top)
tman_ndsu08 BANNED Posts: 5,021	When do I get to by my self driving car? I'd much rather do work, read the paper, eat breakfast, etc. without having to drive.