Autonomous Motorcycle to contest DARPA Grand Challenge

The DARPA Grand Challenge was the first race for autonomous robots from LA to Las Vegas on March 13, 2004 with a US$1 million prize. The race was be contested by 24 cars and one autonomous two-wheeler. This interview was conducted with the Team leader of the Ghostrider Robot Team, Anthony Levandowski just prior to the event.

Gizmo: Why two wheels?

AL: We are looking at where robotics will be 15 years from today. Single track (two wheel) vehicles cost less, are more efficient and can traverse more extreme environments because they only have to conform to the terrain in one axis.

For these reasons, two wheeled vehicles are the second most common means of locomotion for humans, second only to walking! Achieving stability is much more complex than on any other platform, which is why no one has succeeded at creating an autonomous motorcycle.

By understanding and mastering the stability of this platform we hope to create a vehicle with performance characteristics that no other robot can match.

Gizmo: How are you progressing with a few weeks to go?

AL: We are doing great! Our vehicle is up and running. We finally found the reason why the vehicle kept crashing (besides gravity). Our maximum steering angle correction speed was too low. Our GPS navigation is field (but not on the actual vehicle) tested and works great. The vision system shows promising results from sample data feeds collected during desert visits. We will see how well they all work as one system at QID! In any case we consider our project a success because we have demonstrated how to control a single track vehicle for autonomous operation.

Gizmo: Why did you choose a motorcycle over four wheels?

AL: Good question. The fastest way for a human to go from point a to point b off-road is on a motorcycle, why would robots be different? Let's look at why the motorcycle is more flexible.Four, three or six wheeled vehicles are great for stability. However their platform is physically attached to the surface of the ground.

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