Axion Racing's Yellow Dog Linux experts have been able to finalize all field testing of the team's PlayStation 3 road finding system. This system will be a focal point for the team to try and win the pole position at the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge. Qualifications for this event begin later this month with the race to be held on November 3rd.

 

PlayStation 3 and web cameras in test mode on Spirit	Screen shot of team's  PS3 running Yellow Dog Linux

Using a stand alone PlayStation, TerraSoftSolutions' Yellow Dog Linux, and specialized code to vote direction the YDL experts were able to find obstacles and determine the best path to follow. These votes are added to votes from other sensors and the Axion Arbitrator then selects the proper direction, speed, and angle of the team's (Spirit) autonomous vehicle movement.

Side view of modified web camera used in team's Sony PS3	Bracket used to install PS3 "stereo cameras" on Spirit

Yellow Dog Linux was created in 1999, immediately offering the most complete, professional Linux OS for Apple PowerPC computers. From 2002 through 2006, Terra Soft maintained a unique license as a top tier Apple PSP VAR to preinstall Yellow Dog Linux on Apple computers, achieving a number of first-ever milestones. In 2006 Terra Soft turned its focus to IBM, Mercury, and Sony systems, furthering its Power architecture expertise with Yellow Dog Linux support for new 970, POWER, and Cell based systems.

Axion Racing is the first autonomous vehicle racing team to ever utilize a Sony PlayStation 3 to help drive an autonomous vehicle. This technology runs better than Microsoft based solutions and allows for efficient decision making. The team was also the first to build an autonomous vehicle that could seat five comfortably, and also developed the patented Axion Racing Sensory Enclosure.