The Team

Some teams have 50 people and millions of dollars. We are not one of them. Our small team of 3 lives in Birmingham, Alabama and we are funded by our “day jobs.”

Jeff Lyons has been a programmer since 1978, starting work on an Altair computer complete with switches and blinking lights. Jeff does most of the development.

Wife Emily Lyons and friend Mike Beck form the pit crew.

Team member Emily Lyons lost an eye in a terrorist bombing. This incident provided much of the motivation to enter the DARPA Grand Challenge. Our team has experienced the devastation a bomb causes. If we can help prevent someone else being damaged for the rest of their lives by an explosion, then all of this has been worth it.

Emily’s loss of vision means a loss of freedom. Though a miracle operation restored some sight, she is unable to drive for long distances and cannot drive at night or when it is too bright outside. During this ordeal, we have met many who go through life with a white cane. I don’t know how to make the blind see again, but perhaps we can restore some of their freedom of mobility. It sounds like a worthwhile goal.

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