Odin Completes Qualification Event B

Oct. 30, 2007
As a result of DARPA deciding to have all teams re-run the 3 qualification events, Odin was given a second chance to complete Event B. This is the event that Odin was unable to complete initially due to a problem with navigating a "gauntlet" of disabled vehicles.

This time around, Odin drove autonomously into victory lane! The gauntlet that had previously tripped us up, was no problem this time- due to the diligent work of the software team. There was an unexpected glitch early in the run, where Odin drove up on the curb. The team is still debugging this event to discover the source of the error.

Preparing for Second Run in Qualifying Event B

Oct. 30th, 2007
In the first round of qualifying runs, Odin was able to complete 2 of 3 qualifying events without any serious traffic violations or hiccups. The one course that Odin had trouble with was Qualifying Event B, where he was unable to finish because he got stuck in "the gauntlet", a maze of disabled vehicles. Today Odin is scheduled to run this event at 12:30pm. The team has a practice at 8:40am to verify that software modifications aimed at preventing a failure in course B are effective.

The practice run is a success. Odin runs the guantlet without a hitch. It appears the software teams hard work has paid off. We will see for sure later today.

All Teams Re-Run Qualifying Rounds

Oct. 29, 2007
DARPA has announced that all teams must run the qualifying events again, regardless of the results from the first set of runs. Victor Tango is the first team to run on site A, which aims to test merging ability. In this qualifying event, the vehicle is set up on a loop in which it must make left turns across an oncoming traffic lane, and left turns across a busy road from a stop sign. See this run in the video below:

Odin runs course A with a few traffic violations, but overall it is successful. The fairly large crowd that has gathered cheers for Odin as he exits the course. Team Victor Tango, initially considered an underdog, has begun to gain recognition for the quality of their qualifying runs. Upon the conclusion of event A, a news team from the Victorville Daily Press follows the team around. The resulting story can be read on their website at Top Story: Are Robot Cars in our Future?.
The team is very excited to have made the front page of the newspaper, as can be seen at breakfast on the next morning.

2nd and 3rd Qualifying Rounds

Oct. 28, 2007
Odin is tested on the 2nd and 3rd qualifying events, B and C. The first test of the day, event B, takes place first thing in the morning at 7:30. Quite used to the early mornings at this point (the picture to the right is taken at 5am), the team is in place well before the designated launch time. Test area B includes the most diverse set of challenges of any of the qualification events. It is designed to test Odin's ability to navigate difficult road conditions and park. Perched on a balcony, team members look on as their vehicle exits the start chute. Odin is able to finish a good portion of the course before getting stuck at "the gauntlet", a maze of disabled vehicles DARPA scatters in the road. The team is allowed to reset Odin and continue. Odin continues to run the course until time has expired. While the team was hoping to see Odin finish the course, performance-wise Odin compares very well to the competition.
The second test area of the day is run at 12:30. Known as "Area C", this test is designed to confirm that the vehicle can follow precedence at 4 way stops, and can detect road blockages and re-plan a new route accordingly. When the start horn is blown, Odin approaches his first intersection and proceeds as expected. The course circles around and brings Odin back to the same 4-way intersection repeatedly; and repeatedly Odin waits his turn to proceed through the intersection. DARPA throws the first curve ball and blocks a road that Odin expects to travel through. Just as rehearsed, Odin detects the blockage and makes a 3 point U-turn. According to unofficial sources, Odin was either the first, or one of the first, vehicles to complete this test.

Cheryl's Birthday!

Oct. 27, 2007
In the throws of qualification rounds, the team members set up a surprise birthday party for Cheryl. As our team's only female member, she is a brave soul that puts up with male shenanigans on a daily basis. She is a critical part of the team, and we wouldn't be here without her. Thanks Cheryl!!

First Qualifying Run Goes Well

Oct. 27, 2007
Saturday brings another early morning for Victor Tango. The team departs the hotel and heads into the desert well before sunrise. The vehicle must be started up and calibrated before the first qualifying run. Victor Tango is chosen to be the first of the 35 teams to be tested on Qualifying Event A. Up until 5 minutes before the test, the team will have no idea what the test will encompass. After the mission is loaded in the computers, Victor Tango must simply sit back and watch Odin, hoping that they have taught him well.

The time comes, and DARPA provides the startup team (including Pat and Steve who are illuminated in the picture) with the mission file which is quickly loaded on Odin. The vehicle is positioned at the start point and DARPA's stunt drivers begin to drive around the course as traffic. The countdown begins:

3.... 2..... 1..... "BOT IS AUTONOMOUS"

... the voice booms over the radios, and Odin jumps to a start. Just as booming as the radio voice is the heartbeat of all the team members. Odin approaches a stop sign at a T-intersection at which he must make a left turn across traffic. Coming to a complete stop and waiting as several vehicles pass, Odin appears to be doing everything perfectly. When a gap is spotted, Odin proceeds to make a safe left turn. The course continues this way for about 30 minutes with only one major hiccup causing the vehicle to stop. At one point, Odin's sensors see a phantom obstacle caused by a strip of reflective tape on the ground. Unable to get around this ghost obstacle, Odin sits patiently until he must be reset. This unlikely occurrence arises only once. Odin is able to pass the same place more than ten times without the phantom object arising.

The team is happy with the results and feels they have set the bar high. As the day progresses, this proves to be true. Directly after Victor Tango, a team comes within inches of crashing head on into a traffic vehicle. The stunt driver is able to avoid the bot through emergency maneuvers. Later on in the day an autonomous Porsche Cayenne crashes headlong into a K-rail. See the heart wrenching video on . Fortunately none of the sensors were seriously damaged, and it is expected that the vehicle will be able to continue with further qualification rounds.

The Competition