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Old June 21st 05, 11:28 PM
Dave C.
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> >It could be a LOT easier if it didn't have to conform to DARPA rules.
For
> >example, the DARPA vehicles have to have no remote link to anything

outside
> >the vehicle, EXCEPT the emergency kill switch (or whatever they call it)
> >that allows the vehicle to be shut down if required for safety reasons.

Any
> >wonder then that no vehicle has passed DARPA yet? You basically have to
> >have a supercomputer on board to process all the information being fed to
> >the vehicle from CCTV, radar or whatever else is being used to "guide"

it.
> >That's because the car ITSELF has to make all decisions about
> >acceleration/braking/steering with nothing at all outside the car to

guide
> >it. (YIKES!)

>
> A human driver performs the same task, without all that much trouble.
> The DARPA rules aren't unreasonable.



A human mind is a very efficient super computer. It can process a LOT of
information very quickly. Not all humans use their brains efficiently, but
it doesn't matter. A human brain can still process a lot of information
quickly.

You are right that the DARPA rules aren't unreasonable . . . for the purpose
of the DARPA "race". The DARPA challenge is to create an autonomous weapon
of some sort capable of self-locomotion and self-navigation. Because it is
a WEAPON, it must operate alone without help from anything outside (because
it is in enemy territory obviously, so it would have to MISTRUST anything
outside trying to help to guide it, if such existed)

Now compare that with the challenge of building a self-driving car. The
self-driving car doesn't have to operate with no contact with the world
around it. While you theoretically could take any car into a hostile
environment, your average commuter vehicle would encounter nothing more
hostile than automated toll collection booths. As the car would be EXPECTED
to follow certain paths (literally, any paved road), the roads themselves
could be equipped to help guide the car.

But don't expect terrorists to equip the roads leading into their
strongholds with sensors to guide a self-driven weapon into their midst.
Now you see the difference, right? DARPA rules ARE unreasonable, if your
goal is to build a self-driving car.

DARPA is looking for a very advanced form of self-driving vehicle, when a
plain old ordinary commuter car that can drive itself hasn't even been
invented yet. (DARPA is skipping a few intermediate, easier steps.) -Dave


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