Omnibus The Grand DARPA Challenge (Entry 543.PS5507)
Dec 4, 2025
A government-backed desert race sparks the creation of technologies shaping our autonomous future. Andrew Miller shares insights on his journey from designing infrastructure for self-driving cars to leading transit initiatives. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of the DARPA Grand Challenge and how it propelled innovations like Stanford's Stanley. Miller debates long-haul trucking's viability, the rise of Waymo, and the implications of autonomous vehicles on employment and urban planning. His thoughts on policy choices highlight the importance of proactive strategies for a smoother transition.
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Desert Test Turned Comedy Of Errors
- The first DARPA Grand Challenge in 2004 was a disaster with almost all vehicles failing spectacularly.
- Carnegie Mellon's Humvee 'Sandstorm' went the furthest but still only managed seven miles before high-centering and catching fire.
Sensor Fusion Was The Breakthrough
- The 2005 turnaround came from 'sensor fusion' combining LiDAR, radar, cameras, and GPS into one model.
- Stanford's 'Stanley' used networked computers to integrate data and won the 2005 $2M prize.
DARPA As A Prize-Driven VC
- DARPA treated prizes like venture capital to push risky engineering problems into practice.
- After solving self-driving basics, DARPA moved on to other frontier problems like disaster robots and cybersecurity.
