The Book: The University of Louisiana's CajunBot

[RaginFan2]

Yes I am an official member of the team...

News of the day: CajunBot completed its 5th run this morning. We were then called back out to the course in the afternoon for an unexpected sixth run. We were doing very well, right up until the very end, when we hit a parked vehicle and were forced to stop. No damage to the CajunBot however.

Basically, at this point, we don't know if we will make the final 20 or not. That announcement will come at some point late in the day tomorrow. I like our chances though. All we can do now is be ready if they happen to ask us to run again.

By the way, I hear there is a cool video on cajunbot.com that shows the vehicle moving through its first successful run. Go check that out.

Way to geaux, mon ami! Good luck to you and the entire Cajunbot team!!!

[Crowley Cajun]

Just saw the video. Very nice! Keep up the good work and win that challenge!

[BabbForHeisman]

Just received the news...CajunBot will move on!

DARPA is taking 23 teams to the race starting in Primm, Nevada, and we are one of them!

[BonCajun]

Just received the news...CajunBot will move on!

DARPA is taking 23 teams to the race starting in Primm, Nevada, and we are one of them!

Great news thanks for keeping us on top of things.

[sleepophile]

w00t!!! Congratulations..keep up the great work guys...!

[NewsCopy]

While in Fontana, Calif., doing test runs for CajunBot, the team kept close watch on one particular race they wanted to get in on. Then, at around 5 p.m. CDT, the news came that Team CajunBot was a finalist for the DARPA Grand Challenge, a race that could bring a $2 million purse worth of research funds and reimbursements to the University of Louisiana and the student and faculty staff behind the project. "It's a great feeling to take on a big challenge and be satisfied that you're being recognized in this group," said Arun Lakhotia, associate professor at the Center for Advanced Computer Studies. "We're competing with the brightest in the country, the brightest in the world." The Defense Advanced Research and Development Agency Grand Challenge is a desert road test for autonomous robotic vehicles designed to improve autonomous technologies that could save lives on the battlefield. DARPA is the central research and development organization for the Department of Defense. There are 23 teams from numerous universities and racing groups that will send their robots into the Mojave Desert near Primm, Nev., for a 175-mile race to be completed in 10 hours. While CajunBot isn't a fast machine, Lakhotia said it's agile, and that could be key in navigating the desert terrain. The rest of the story Jordan Hernandez jhernandez@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

CajunBot has been going for almost 2 hours and has traversed 25 miles.

The Hummers are far in the lead but left 3 hours ahead of CajunBot.

Click link then "Status Board" for live results.

www.grandchallenge.org

[BabbForHeisman]

Well, CajunBot was officially disabled after travelling a full 18 miles autonomously. This was far greater than we had hoped for. It was good enough for a top-15 finish.

So why did we stop? DARPA had to "pause" our vehicle to allow some cross traffic to go through. In the process of being paused for fifty minutes, one of the actuator's that control the steering overheated and quit working. Not cool. Bottom line, if we did not have to pause there, we could have finished the course. But hey, what can you do?

[RaginFan2]

Well, CajunBot was officially disabled after travelling a full 18 miles autonomously. This was far greater than we had hoped for. It was good enough for a top-15 finish.

So why did we stop? DARPA had to "pause" our vehicle to allow some cross traffic to go through. In the process of being paused for fifty minutes, one of the actuator's that control the steering overheated and quit working. Not cool. Bottom line, if we did not have to pause there, we could have finished the course. But hey, what can you do?

It is interesting to note some of the teams we finished ahead of too (Auburn, CalTech, etc.) Congrats on a fine competition. Sorry y'all didn't finish in the top 10, but a top 15 finish is excellent (especially considering our resources). Y'all have "done us proud"!

[Zeebart21]

Well, CajunBot was officially disabled after travelling a full 18 miles autonomously. This was far greater than we had hoped for. It was good enough for a top-15 finish.

So why did we stop? DARPA had to "pause" our vehicle to allow some cross traffic to go through. In the process of being paused for fifty minutes, one of the actuator's that control the steering overheated and quit working. Not cool. Bottom line, if we did not have to pause there, we could have finished the course. But hey, what can you do?

Man, you guys are awesome... Nice work!

Z.