Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

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  • Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

    Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

    The Stanford Racing Team's "Stanley," a modified Volkswagen Touareg, drives itself on the 2.3-mile race track at the qualifying event for the DARPA Grand Challenge, scheduled for Oct. 8 at the California Speedway, near Primm Valley, Nev.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

    Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

    Stanley did qualify for the DARPA desert race of unmanned vehicles, which features a $2 million prize. It finished the seven-day qualifying event without hitting any obtacles.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • sandstorm

    sandstorm

    Sandstorm, from Carnegie Mellon University's Red Team, is one of the favorites of this year's race.

    Note the dust trail picked up just driving through the testing area. Imagine what it will be like riding over desert roads.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • wrong turn

    wrong turn

    Team Mojavation had a problem in the qualifying event when its vehicle decided to turn too soon and was disabled. But the team did qualify for the finals.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • fire

    fire

    Track workers put out a brushfire in the hay bales after a racer named IRV crashed through the barrier.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • tank trap

    tank trap

    A tank trap was set up to nab unsuspecting robot drivers during the qualifying rounds.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • hitting the wall

    hitting the wall

    The robot-driven vehicle Cimar bounces off the wall and is disabled during the qualifying portion of the race.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • JackBot from MonsterMoto

    JackBot from MonsterMoto

    The JackBot from MonsterMoto is another of the vehicles competing for a spot in the Grand Challenge.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • speeding

    speeding

    JackBot speeds around the track to qualify for the finals.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • big and small

    big and small

    DARPA racers come in all shapes and sizes.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • walking off course

    walking off course

    Ghostrider is walked off the course.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

    Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

    The Desert Tortoise from Intelligent Vehicle Safety Technologies, another contender.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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A $2 million prize awaits the winner of DARPA's desert contest for unmanned vehicles.

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Photos: Robot vehicles race for Grand Challenge

The Stanford Racing Team's "Stanley," a modified Volkswagen Touareg, drives itself on the 2.3-mile race track at the qualifying event for the DARPA Grand Challenge, scheduled for Oct. 8 at the California Speedway, near Primm Valley, Nev.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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