Brainstorms: New Frontiers in Science & Technology: Cars That Drive Themselves? February 16, 2006

Brainstorms: New Frontiers in Science & Technology: Cars That Drive Themselves? (EVT 123)
In 2004, the US Department of Defense launched a single "Grand Challenge" to the robotics community: Build a car that drives itself from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The "DARPA Grand Challenge" requires an off-road vehicle to drive some 175 miles through punishing desert terrain in less than 10 hours, and without a driver on board! In the Fall of 2005, Stanford's School of Engineering joined 194 competing teams to win this unique robot race. In collaboration with multiple Bay Area companies, researchers from the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab developed a whole new suite of computer programs for autonomous driving through unrehearsed desert terrain, at speeds of up to 35mph. This presentation provides fascinating insights into the robot's "brains," and it also reports on the results of this historic race.

Co-sponsored by Continuing Studies and the School of Engineering

Sebastian Thrun
Associate Professor of Computer Science and,
by courtesy, of Electrical Engineering
Sebastian Thrun is an Associate Professor of Computer Science, Director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and the leader of the "Stanford Racing Team." Thrun received his PhD from the University of Bonn in 1995, and spent a number of years on the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University before coming to Stanford. He pursues research in artificial intelligence and robotics with enthusiasm.

http://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/course/EVT123.asp

Pre-registration required