Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated August 7, 2007

This “Frequently Asked Questions” page contains a listing of many of the questions asked of Axion Racing. Please feel free to contact us if you need additional information.

Q1. Why do you think that you can beat teams that already have DARPA contracts?

A1. Of the teams participating in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, Axion Racing has the best vision and path following artificial intelligence software available. The autonomous vehicle Spirit is using a Northrop Grumman LN-270 INS and an Amphitech OASYS 3D MWM RADAR for the best sensor package on all vehicles entered in the race. With our Autonomous Visions System (AVS) box implementation, we expect to pass the larger funded teams and hopefully win the race. There were Defense funded teams that could not be "Completely Accepted" for the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge, while we spent 5 cents to every dollar spent by other Defense teams.

Q2. How much have you spent on your autonomous vehicle?

A2. Axion Racing will have spent roughly $450,000 on its 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge entry. This would have increased to $625,000, if the team had been charged for its MMW RADAR loaner unit.

Q3. What's the main difference between the Fifteen 2004 DGC participants, so heavily reported, and the actual 7 "Completely Accepted" DARPA Grand Challenge qualifiers?

A3. Fifteen teams report that they raced in the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge. Only seven of those team were actually eligible to win the $1 Million prize. Axion Racing was the only self-funded "Completely Accepted" team to be eligible for the US Senate funded prize at the start of the 2004 DGC race.

Q4. Do you think you can win the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge?

A4. It is our belief that our vision sensors, RADAR, and the best GPS system of all the teams will allow us to easily win the next DGC. We also expect our Axion Arbitrator software to really show off during the next challenge.

Q5. How long is the route?

A5. The exact route has not been determined, but the estimate is that there will be six missions for a total of 65 miles.

Q6. Is the route primarily on-road or off-road?

A6. The route will have a significant variety of paved roads.

Q7. How hard will it be? What type of obstacles will be encountered?

A7. The route will be similar to city driving. It would be possible for a licensed driver to traverse all routes, without issue. Spirit will need to be able to determine if a route is blocked and then go to another option to complete a mission.

Q8. Can Spirit attack other vehicles?

A8. A team will be disqualified if, in the opinion of a judge, their challenge or safety vehicle intentionally attacks, crashes, or otherwise interferes with another vehicle.

Q9. What is meant by “the vehicles must not damage the environment or infrastructure?”

A9. This will be based on the challenge officials’ judgment. For example, an extremely heavy vehicle with steel tracks that destroy road pavement, a vehicle that clears a path by setting everything in its way on fire, or a vehicle that digs large holes, are unacceptable.

Q10. Will the route be known/available for driving in advance of the challenge?

A10. The checkpoint(s) will be announced well in advance, giving the contestants an approximate course location. However the waypoints, which will much more precisely define the route, will not be given until 2 hours before the start.

Q11. How many waypoints will there be?

A11. The 2004 DGC had approximately 2,500 waypoints and the 2005 DGC had approximately 3,100. We expect less this time.

Q12. How will you be given the waypoint locations?

A12. Standard ASCII format.

Q13. Will refueling or repairs be allowed?

A13. Yes, however they must be autonomous. Equipment must be placed at a checkpoint prior to the start of the challenge. As with the challenge vehicle itself, no humans (or other living beings) may control or send commands or data to the service equipment after the start of the challenge.

Q14. Will Axion Racing use a differential global positioning system (DGPS)?

A14. Our Challenge Vehicle has a lot of important sensors. These include differential GPS receivers in towns or counties along the way. We also use NavCom GPS receivers and everything is tied into our odometer, speed RADAR sensor and our LN-270 INS unit.

Q15. What time of day will the challenge take place?

A15. The challenge will start in the early morning and the maximum allowable time to complete the route will be prior to sunset. It most likely to start at 6:30AM

Q16. When does an E-stop result in disqualification? When is the time of an E-stop counted against the elapsed time of the vehicle?

A16. A team will not be punished if an E-stop is required because of a safety issue that is not the fault of the team or its vehicle. An example is a hiker who accidentally wanders onto the route in front of a vehicle. In that case, an E-stop should be executed immediately. The elapsed time for that vehicle will be stopped until the situation is corrected, and the vehicle will be allowed to continue with the challenge. However, if an E-stop is activated by a team member for the purpose of preventing any other type of unwanted behavior, the vehicle will be disqualified since this action violates the autonomous spirit of the vehicle in this event.

Supplying a capable safety vehicle is the responsibility of the team. If an E-stop is the result of the safety vehicle not keeping up with the challenge vehicle, the team will be penalized by having the elapsed time clock continue during this stop. The vehicle will not be disqualified since this type of E-stop is not an attempt by the team to manually control the autonomous vehicle.

Q17. What can a foreign national or foreign organization do?

A17. You can work on Axion Racing’s entry. Any award money will be paid to the Axion Racing.

Q18. Can someone enter the challenge if they have received research grants from the Federal Government?

A18. Yes, as long as all other eligibility criteria are met and no Government- owned property is used in preparation for the challenge.

Q19. May a Federal Government organization enter the competition?

A19. No.

Q20. What about trade secrets and intellectual property rights?

A20. In the interest of fostering scientific development, the paper describing the entry will be made available to the public after the challenge. This will limit the ability of contestants to maintain trade secrets. Otherwise, all intellectual property rights will remain with the owner.

Q21. What if there is no winner in 2007?

A21. As long as Congressional authority exists to make the award, subsequent challenges will be held until there is a winner. The current authority expires on September 30, 2007, but was extended until November of 2007.

Q22. What is next for Spirit?

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