Grand challenge showcases unmanned vehicle technology

  • Published
  • By Donna Miles
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Enthusiasm is building at California Motor Speedway in Fontana, Calif., as more than 20 unmanned ground vehicles prepare to face off against the clock March 13, while navigating 200 miles of rugged terrain.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Grand Challenge will pit an array of innovative vehicles against battlefield-like conditions between Barstow, Calif., and Primm, Nev.

The event includes an enticing payoff for the top-placing team that completes the course in less than 10 hours: $1 million cash.

Lt. Col. Paul Daly, director of operations for the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center’s Detachment 5 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Maj. Kent Tiffany, an X-45 test pilot with the 452nd Flight Test Squadron also at Edwards, are participating in the event. Both have been involved with this private project since the challenge was first declared by the agency in July 2002.

"Our machine is basically a Honda 650 Rincon all-terrain vehicle," Colonel Daly said. "We stripped it down to the basic elements of the frame and got rid of most of the things a human would need to ride it. We also added custom items like long-range gas tanks."

The course -- to be revealed just two hours before the green flag is waved to start the competition -- includes paved and unpaved roads, hard-packed and rocky trails, off-road brush and washes, dry lakebeds, water crossings, underpasses and overpasses, said Col. Jose Negron. He is leading the grand challenge program. The vehicles must navigate the course using only onboard sensors, without human operators onboard or using remote-control devices.

The event is designed to spur good, old-fashioned American ingenuity to accelerate the development of autonomous-vehicle technology for military applications, Colonel Negron said. Another goal is to reach out to people with good ideas who do not normally do business with the Defense Department.

"The intent is to bring together innovative thinkers from a variety of fields who can help us make major strides in the development of autonomous robotic ground vehicles," he said.

The vehicles arrived at the speedway for five days of qualifying, inspection and demonstration rounds to ensure they met safety and performance requirements. This process continued through March 12.

The vehicles are as varied as the teams they represent. Some resemble military Humvees or sport utility vehicles; others look more like motorcycles or all-terrain vehicles. They also use different types of sensors and onboard-computer systems.

Colonel Negron said he is confident that at least some of the vehicles will reach the finish line within the designated timeframe.

"But even if we don't end up with a winner, we're way ahead of where we were as far as outreach and excitement about the project are concerned," he said.

"While we're out here having fun, our ultimate objective is to save American lives on the battlefield," he said. "That's our bottom line."

Unmanned systems are playing an increasingly important role in combat operations. Unmanned air vehicles such as the RQ-1 Predator and Global Hawk have carried out reconnaissance and surveillance missions in Iraq, and the MQ-1 Predator has performed precision air strikes. (Airman 1st Class Matthew Dillier contributed to this story.)