Urban Challenge



Application



Boss obeys stop signs at an intersection during the
Urban Challenge.

The 60-mile Urban Challenge course wound through an urban area with crowded streets, buildings, traffic, road signs, lane markers, and stop lights.  The exact route was unknown until the morning of the race.  Each vehicle attempted to complete a series of three missions within a six-hour time limit.  No human intervention whatsoever was allowed during the race.  Each vehicle used its on-board sensing and reasoning capabilities to drive safely in traffic, plan routes through busy streets, negotiate intersections and traffic circles, obey speed limits and other traffic laws, and avoid stationary and moving obstacles – including other Urban Challenge competitors. 

Tartan Racing entered the Urban Challenge to bring intelligent autonomous driving from the pages of science fiction to the streets of your town.  The technologies developed for this race will lay the groundwork for safer, more efficient, and more accessible transportation for everyone.

An aging population and infrastructure and rising traffic volumes put motorists at risk.  Without technological innovation, auto accidents will become the third-leading cause of death by 2020.  Integrated, autonomous driver assistance systems and related safety technologies will prevent accidents and injuries and save lives.  They will also help people retain their freedom of movement and independence as they grow older.

Autonomous driving technologies can also be used to improve workplace safety and productivity.  Assistance systems for heavy machinery and trucks will allow them to operate more efficiently and with less risk to drivers and bystanders.