DARPA And Its Robots
I have been following the DARPA Grand Challenge since is started back in 2004. I used to work on automated software for testing space batteries in the Battery Evaluation Laboratory (BEL) and heard about the challenge. My company even had a vehicle in the challenge that I was considering helping out. However, I was in school full time, working part-time, and had a girlfriend that I wanted to keep. Out of the four choices I could only pick three.
- School
- Work
- Girlfriend
- Help Golem
So I never really looked into helping them out, but I think I picked the right three. But thats still no excuses for not being able to follow the progress. Its great to see a product finally come out of the DARPA Grand Challenge.
DARPA Crusher
(youtube.com)
Remember that this is a 6.5-ton autonomous off-road Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle. You push start and hope it doesn’t view you as a threat. No one drives it or aims it…. Autonomous!
Oh but if they need to control this beast, how else would you do it besides using an iPhone and XBox 360 controller.
In addition to being completely autonomous, Crusher can be remotely controlled thanks to a hacked together Iphone and Xbox 360 interface. The Iphone can receive vehicle updates while the Xbox controller can steer and fire the weapons.
But wait! We have more! Looks like one robot is not enough for DARPA, they had to create another Robot that looks like an AT-AT from Star Wars. Its Boston Dynamics, BigDog quadruped robot.This thing even looks like a scary AT-AT!
(youtube.com)
I liked when he kicks the body… Of course its not going to fall over um… try the tow cable (Didn’t he watch The Empire Strikes Back). And of course the Human Spoof. =)
Everyday I get more and more fearful that ED-209’s will be roaming the streets… “You have downloaded a illegal MP3, please delete it in 5 seconds or be terminated… 4 seconds to comply… 3 seconds to comply… “, No!!! Windows cannot delete file, It is being used by another person or program! AAAHHHH!!!
![Maybe that \](http://www.rungeek.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/ed209.jpg "Maybe that \")
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