Our Car (Emily)
Though DARPA placed some restrictions on the type of vehicle used, it really doesn’t make that much difference. The Grand Challenge is a computer software contest. We picked a 1991 BMW 325i for several reasons, but the deciding factor was that we happened to have one.
The vehicle used for our contest entry was symbolic. This car survived a bombing in 1998. It was sitting in a parking lot when a terrorist detonated a homemade dynamite bomb by remote control from across the street. The windshield and passenger window shattered, the convertible top shredded, and the air conditioner lines ruptured from the pressure changes. A police officer was murdered and a nurse was critically injured. As the DARPA goal is to help keep our military out of harms way from roadside explosions, an automobile that was restored after a terrorist attack seemed fitting.
Emily required very few modifications. Small cameras were mounted in various places. Ultrasound sensors were placed on the front, back, and sides of the car to help with parking. A DC motor was used to turn the steering wheel. A linear actuator pushes the break. Computers are mounted on a cushioned frame in the trunk. A flashing warning light is required by DARPA when in autopilot mode, but was removed for the photo. After the contest is over, we will release more details of the products we used. For now, there is a summary in our technology overview.