Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 00:27:05 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>, "'WSFA members'" <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: DARPA Grandchallenge 2005 set for this Sunday
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 11:29 PM 10/5/2005 -0400, Ernest Lilley wrote:
>The second DARPA sponsored robot race in the desert goes off this Sunday,
>and I'm sure we'll see a vast improvement over last year's performance. I
>met one of the designers at a mil-robot conference in DC a few months back
>and was happy to see that his entry, a robotic motorcycle (which looks
>really eerie standing still and not falling over) made the number 2 slot in
>qualifying trials.

Is that "Team Ghostrider"?  Last year they got shafted...they weren't given
enough time to let their gyros spool up, so the bike, which had done well
in qualifying, went down quickly.

They've taken on extra problems to solve with that one.  The 4 wheelers
only have to navigate and handle obstructions and terrain.  The bike folks
have that as well as keeping the bike appropriately set so as to stay on
its wheels as it handles the obstructions and other problems, and they have
to do that with limited power and carrying capacity...unlike the Hummer folks.

I hope that all the teams do well this time.  If they can navigate the
hundred miles or so of unpaved course out west, they may be ready to take
on a tougher course...commuting in D.C.!

-- Mike B.

--
"...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to slide across the
finish line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, and
shouting "WOW--What a ride!""