The Great Robot Race

1. Who is the sponsor for this Grand Challenge? What’s their goal?

The sponsor is  D.A.R.P.A. (Defence Automotive Research Projects Agency). Their goal is to complete a course with obstacles placed before an autonomous robot. The first robot to essentially reach the finish line is the winner of the challenge.

2. What happened to the previous Grand Challenge 2004?

Sandstrom hit a rock in a 142 mile rally and was stuck at 7 miles. All the other robots failed within half a mile into the course. However, Sandstorm wanted to keep going so he rolled his wheels hard against the rock until it caught on fire.  All 15 robots ran into mechanical failures and Sandstorm was the one that went the farthest. Many people believe that this Grand Challenge was impossible to complete. The Red team also wanted to place Highlander in this challenge.

3. How many teams (organization names) can you identify? What are their robots’ names?

- Ghost rider - Blue Team

- Terramax- Defense Contractors

- Stanley-Stanford University (computer software inside the robot to help it think for itself; Makes it more safe to drive, the speed and direction)

- Sandstorm- Carnegie Mellon University (Red team)

- Tommy

- Team Dad- Hall Brothers

- Highlander- Red Team (Carnegie Mellon University)

4. What are the technologies being used in these robots? List at least two robots and analyze them.

- Spinning Laser Sensors- scan for safe roads to drive on.

- GPS receiver : In order for the robot, like Highlander, to drive by itself, it needs a GPS receiver so it can detect the direction it is going and follow the right course.

- Computer Integration (Software)

- Scanners- creates a color coded map for the care: white is good to drive one, red is avoid. scans 60-150 ft. The faster it goes, the faster it needs to scan

-Adaptive Video vision- calculate the distance that is safe to drive

- Hall Brothers- video camera: compares the distances of objects and tries to avoid it.

5. Why the shapes/sizes of robots in the race are so diverse? What are the different functions/goals they want to achieve? List at least two robots and analyze them.

This Grand Challenge comes with all kind obstacles, gates, and tunnels. If all the robots have the same shapes and sizes, then a lot of different size things cannot be accomplished. The smallest robot in this challenge was the Ghostrider, which is an autonomous motorcycle. Anthony wanted the motorcycle to stand up by itself. The largest that entered was Terramax, which is a 16-ton truck. Despite its size, it is a robot that tends to have a helpful trait. It might play a big role in the Marine Corps. At the end of the day, all these people come together with one goal, which is to complete the course and win the race.

6. Compare the different approaches taken by a small Stanford University team with its entry, Stanley, to that of rival CMU.

Stanford sees the robot as more of an intellectual decision maker, unlike Carnegie Mellon University. Stanley has lasers that can help determine the color of a smoother path. With the laser, it can basically adapt to the course's road condition and determine the speed it should travel in. Stanley was he only vehicle that did not hit any obstacles in the race. No one knew how successful this robot would be.

Red Team: Sandstrom will be the one trying its best to make it through all the obstacles while Highlander will be the risk taker and try to go the fastest.

7. What do you learn from the experiences of grand challenge?

- Not everything will go right so there will be failures

- Do not let failures defeat you

- Never give up in what you want to accomplish