Vehicle driven by Mac OS X takes Team Banzai to DARPA semi-finals

Team Banzai, is on their way to the national semi-finals of the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge with “Dora” -- the world’s first fully-autonomous vehicle driven by Mac OS X. Dora the Explorer? Not quite. Dora is a 2004 V6 Volkswagon Touareg, silly. No human drivers, no remote controls - just a can of Mac OS X whoop-ass and a dream. All aspects of development and race management efforts at Team Banzai use Apple and Mac OS X technology.

"The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will conduct the second Grand Challenge for autonomous robotic ground vehicles. Approximately 20 robots will navigate a course of more than 140 miles over rugged desert terrain in the southwest United States. The team whose vehicle completes the course the fastest—in less than 10 hours—will receive a check for $2 million. The intent of the Grand Challenge is to encourage participation in robotics R&D by nontraditional individuals and organizations—outside the Military/Defense procurement sector—who may offer new, innovative ways of thinking that lead to scientific or technological breakthroughs."

Go team!

[Thanks ll, via Apple Hot News]

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Source: http://team.gobanzai.com/home.html

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Team Banzai, is on their way to the national semi-finals of the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge with “Dora” -- the world’s...

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allan

Your heading says "Team Bonzai" :) made me chuckle a bit, it should be "Team Banzai"

July 22 2005 at 9:42 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

wheels

It's pronounced Tour Egg, you know, like the space ship that carried Mork From Ork? Can we now consider Mac Minis portable computers? ok, I'll stop now Na-nu Na-nu...Schelzbutt!

July 22 2005 at 12:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

superpixel

Dora the Explorer isn't old enough to drive. Then again, neither is the Mac mini. But which would you rather have on the road: a (kernel) panic, or a (system) crash? Just say no to Windows in cars folks.

July 20 2005 at 11:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Marvo

DARPA Grand Challenge? Wasn't last year's race the one where none of the participants even came close to finishing? Hopefully, some team will actually finish the race this year and I hope it's Team Banzai. PS - I still don't know how to pronounce Touareg.

July 20 2005 at 11:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply