Sandstorm "Aces" Test Trial for $2 Million DARPA Grand Challenge

Sandstorm made four successful runs at the Nevada Automotive Test Center near Carson City.

Carnegie Mellon University's autonomous robotic racer, Sandstorm, made four successful runs on May 10 at the Nevada Automotive Test Center during its trial for the $2 million winner-take-all DARPA Grand Challenge, a 175-mile desert race for robots October 8, 2005.

DARPA race officials evaluated Sandstorm's performance during three timed 200-meter runs that tested its ability to navigate among waypoints, stay within course boundaries and avoid randomly placed obstacles. Carnegie Mellon Red Team leader William "Red" Whittaker said Sandstorm "aced" the site visit by DARPA personnel.

During the first run, Sandstorm clocked a top speed of 23.9 miles-per-hour, covering the 200-meters in 25.9 seconds. In the second run, the top speed was 24.1 miles-per-hour (26.07 seconds). Sandstorm reached 24.6 miles-per-hour (25.5 seconds) in the third time trial.

Sandstorm also successfully tackled a 1,000-meter optional run. Maneuvering itself through hairpin curves and following trails strewn with boulders, it clocked an average speed of 10.9 miles-per-hour, covering the 1,000-meters in three minutes and 23 seconds.

In last year's first Grand Challenge, Sandstorm set records for speed and distance. But this year there are two teams carrying the university banner, Red Team and Red Team Too. Earlier this month, Red Team Too's H1ghlander also performed successfully for DARPA evaluators during test runs in Pittsburgh at the former LTV steelworks site in the city's Hazelwood section.

H1ghlander also performed successfully for DARPA evaluators when it was tested in Pittsburgh on May 4 at the site of the former LTV steelworks in the city's Hazelwood section.

Sandstorm and H1ghlander are among 118 robots vying to reach the Grand Challenge starting line. Following DARPA evaluations, the field will be cut to 40 semi-finalists. Ultimately, 20 vehicles will race. DARPA will announce the semi-finalists on June 1.

For more on Sandstorm and H1ghlander, visit http://www.redteamracing.org.

Anne Watzman
May 11, 2005