This little car can drive itself home

jkash · 09-16-2007, 08:39 AM

This little car can drive itself home
Team of students from Lehigh, Penn modify Prius for international contest.

What could be the latest innovation in military technology is undergoing testing in a parking lot at Lehigh University.

Little Ben, a silver-gray Toyota Prius, represents the future of driverless vehicles -- known in military-speak as autonomous ground vehicles -- which the U.S. military hopes will one day reduce the number of lives lost on supply missions in war zones.

For several months this year, the parking lot near the Rauch Fieldhouse served as the testing grounds for the driverless vehicle developed by engineers from Lehigh, the University of Pennsylvania and the defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

The snub-nosed hybrid circled the macadam on Lehigh University's Goodman campus on an overcast August afternoon, practicing three-point turns and stopping at several checkpoints as its programmers requested.

Someone is sitting at the wheel, but no one is driving Little Ben, except Little Ben. A combination of computer programs, lasers and a global positioning system help the car ''see'' in three dimensions and pick out other vehicles, curbs and obstacles -- such as the overhanging tree branch that makes it stop short.

Read more.

paprius4030 · 09-16-2007, 09:53 AM

Wow I didn't realize this was happening in my back yard. I hope Little Ben wins the competition.

statultra · 09-16-2007, 10:21 AM

i was a student at NJIT, where there was a chevy blazer and like 20 guys in darpa grand challenge, and i suggested to them to use a toyota prius, easier to modify than the chevy blazer they were using, but no one really cared, with a combination of EPS and computer controlled throttle and brakes, it would be so much easier to create a autonomous vehicle than a conventional car

Skwyre7 · 09-24-2007, 11:43 AM

My brother-in-law is working on a team that is competing with HiHy's.

09-16-2007, 08:39 AM	#1
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 857 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	This little car can drive itself home Team of students from Lehigh, Penn modify Prius for international contest. What could be the latest innovation in military technology is undergoing testing in a parking lot at Lehigh University. Little Ben, a silver-gray Toyota Prius, represents the future of driverless vehicles -- known in military-speak as autonomous ground vehicles -- which the U.S. military hopes will one day reduce the number of lives lost on supply missions in war zones. For several months this year, the parking lot near the Rauch Fieldhouse served as the testing grounds for the driverless vehicle developed by engineers from Lehigh, the University of Pennsylvania and the defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The snub-nosed hybrid circled the macadam on Lehigh University's Goodman campus on an overcast August afternoon, practicing three-point turns and stopping at several checkpoints as its programmers requested. Someone is sitting at the wheel, but no one is driving Little Ben, except Little Ben. A combination of computer programs, lasers and a global positioning system help the car ''see'' in three dimensions and pick out other vehicles, curbs and obstacles -- such as the overhanging tree branch that makes it stop short. Read more. __________________ Jeff Mr. Kash's Prius Page

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09-16-2007, 09:53 AM	#2
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 1,048 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Wow I didn't realize this was happening in my back yard. I hope Little Ben wins the competition.

09-16-2007, 10:21 AM	#3
statultra uber-Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cape coral, FL Posts: 575 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	i was a student at NJIT, where there was a chevy blazer and like 20 guys in darpa grand challenge, and i suggested to them to use a toyota prius, easier to modify than the chevy blazer they were using, but no one really cared, with a combination of EPS and computer controlled throttle and brakes, it would be so much easier to create a autonomous vehicle than a conventional car

09-24-2007, 11:43 AM	#4
Skwyre7 What's the catch? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 2,302 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	My brother-in-law is working on a team that is competing with HiHy's.