The 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge is a 130 mile desert course – while this might seem mild compared to the Baja 1000 or other similiar off-road courses, what makes the DARPA Grand Challenge special is that the racers have to complete the course entirely without human control. That’s right – robots.
There’s a whole load of videos over at The Great Robot Race‘s website, but there is one participant that stands out from the rest. Out of 12 participants which consisted of all-wheel drive machines, there was only one two-wheeler – the Ghostrider from Blue Team, which is a computer controlled motorcycle.
Using an array of sensors, high speed high resolution 3D-capable cameras and a gyro to help maintain balance, the Ghostrider navigated the DARPA Grand Challenge course using GPS. Watch a video of the Ghostrider after the jump, and the rest of the participants over at The Great Robot Race.
VIDEO: Ghostrider: the robotic motorcycle
This video podcast was produced and edited by Joe Seamans. NOVA is produced by WGBH in Boston. Major funding for NOVA is provided by Google and BP. Special funding for NOVA podcasts is provided by the MacArthur Foundation.
For more on the DARPA Grand Challenge, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/darpa/
To watch it online, visit http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/darpa/program.html
Many more videos of the Ghost Rider from the team that built it here: http://www.ghostriderrobot.com/index.php?id=robot&pid=videos
Hat tip to Biker Voodoo.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
Awesome!!!
Happy CNY, Paul!
Mat Dispatch and Mat Pizza of the future?
Well, jz hope they wont turned into Rempit Robot of the future!…hehe
Xong Xi Fa Chai Paul
Ang Pow maner?hehehe
Xong Xi Fa Chai
Please install Rempit ver 2.0
Pizza Delivery! Great idea! Think about it – Roti Man, Ice Cream, Newspaper Delivery … lots of possibilities. In 5 years they could miniaturise all the bulky stuff and we can have auto-pilot kapchais!
please bring this robot in malaysia then we can upgrade/install with mat rempit module which is cool…
hahahah…if the robotic rider idea is being implemented to our culture -roti man, aiskrim man pizza delivery man, I can predict that the goods will be stolen before reaching the destination.
Worst still, the whole bike might get stolen.
Roti Naan said,
February 7, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
hahahah…if the robotic rider idea is being implemented to our culture -roti man, aiskrim man pizza delivery man, I can predict that the goods will be stolen before reaching the destination.
Worst still, the whole bike might get stolen.
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Not if the ghostrider is equipped with machine guns. Better yet, flame thrower.
rofl.. was just about to say that roti naan..
but it’s kinda cute seeing how the noob naive robot trying to work its way riding it.. hahahhaha
lots of nerds…
Nerds + troops of ghostriders = World Domination.
Start digging your bunker.
Very nice concept there
accually this DARPA stuff is quit old story (but with latest technology).. i follow this event since im in Uni.. the 1st challange, no one finish the race..:D