Stanley, the Stanford Racing Team's DARPA Grand Challenge Entry

Stanford Racing Team Heads to National Qualifying Event

STANFORD, Calif., Sept. 22 -- Stanley, the Stanford Racing Team's entry into the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, tears through the Arizona desert before heading next week into the National Qualifying Event for the October 8 contest of driverless, robotic cars in Primm, NV. Stanley is the product of collaboration among engineers at Stanford University's School of Engineering, the Volkswagen of America Electronics Research Lab, and supporters at MDV-Mohr Davidow Ventures, Android, Red Bull and other companies.

In the year since the project began, Stanley has driven thousands of miles autonomously, powered by the rugged body of VW Touareg R5 TDI and the whip- smart brains of software developed by Stanford engineers. As the car drives, the software continuously analyzes data coming in from sensors including lasers, radar, video and GPS devices. As it deftly handles the desert terrain, it is running on renewable biodiesel SunFuel.

DARPA is offering a $2 million prize to the team that can complete a challenging desert terrain course of up to 175 miles in less than 10 hours. For more photos and information on Stanley and the Stanford Racing Team, please visit: www.stanfordracing.org. More information on the DARPA Grand Challenge can be found at: http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge/