George Guebely, B.S. Interactive Media Design student at the Art Institute of California has formed a team of qualified individuals to enter the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge.

The team will be led by Dr. Pete Markiewicz, who combines his extensive knowledge of biological systems with extensive programming experience. He has been researching robotics and autonomous vehicles for several years, and has developed unique concepts for their implementation. He is more than qualified to lead the team to become a winning contender in the race.

Our objective is not only to build a winning contender vehicle capable of saving lives, but to also advance the real-world utility of autonomous vehicles. In order to function in real-world environment, UGVs will need to provide an easily understood, interactive media interface for their users. As part of this effort, we plan to include a definite ontology-based “personality” in our UGV. This personality will form a user interface which also will include voice recognition, the use of recorded music for active sensing, dynamic mechanical “rhythm”, and other functions consistent with the architecture planned for the core system. This “personality” will help to humanize the UGV concept for the media and public.

The Race:

The 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge will be competed on October 8, 2005 in the desert from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The team that develops an autonomous ground vehicle that finishes the designated route most quickly within 10 hours will receive $2 million. The route will be no more than 200 miles over desert terrain featuring natural and man-made obstacles. The exact route will not be revealed until two hours before the event begins. 40 participants will compete in a qualifier that will narrow the field to 20 race-day competitors.

The team members are being recruited and presently include: