Well...so much for doing surveys and getting paid. :( I've been doing surveys for Pinecone Research for a long time...and those little $5.00 checks really have helped. No more...one of the $5.00 checks came back to my bank NSF. Nice..can't even cover a $5.00 check???? Of course, my bank has charged me $20.00 for this "service". Of course, they couldn't tell me the truth...the check wasn't bad. Right. Blah. I don't see how I'm going to be able to make it to Anaheim for this "prelim" DARPA conference...thank goodness it is optional. The next race is go for October 8, 2005. I'll be there! :)

Hi! Red Team has released a report on Grand Challenge #1. It is a must-read for anybody interested in this and/or the next Race. It is here:

http://www.ri.cmu.edu/pubs/pub_4696.html

What a relief it is to learn that only Collision #4 can be blamed 100% on DARPA and *NOT* collision #1, #2, #3 and the final collision. Bad DARPA! Bad DARPA! Funny, if what they say is true, I think it's a bit odd that they nor any other contestant caught this....umm..."error"...and brought to DARPA's attention. They claim Sandstorm's corridor was only 1 meter wide. Odd..in that the RDDF was supplied in feet and nothing but whole numbers. Odd, ain't it?

Bryon

Ok..it's been while. Yes..long rest was required. ZZZZZ. Couple of things...today I learned how much the VORAD system costs..not bad at all-$2600. Sweet. Not too expensive...but very impressive for this project. Talked to my first sponser...sigh...he's got money...but...advice may be all I get from him...but that may be worth quite a bit. More thinking...the two vechicle approach may be doable after all...things are coming together nicely...even at this stage. DARPA still has not got back with me...wow...I must have given them some things to think about <giggle>. Hmmm...more laters.

Bryon

Heeeee. No quick response from my latest message to DARPA. Ohhh. This one may take a little while...we're gonna hafta think about this! :) Anyways..another all-nighter which means prolly another post laters. Learning about algorithms and Linux Kernels tonight. Considering hitting Unca Bill up for $$$ even though I won't be using his any of his OS's on my bots....he's a nice guy...he'll understand, right? Still have not figured how I'm going to hit the big boys here up for $$$. To do what I want to do...the price tag is a biggie...we'll looking at *least* $120,000 minimum. Ouchie. Still have no pricing info from Riegl (LIDAR) or Eaton (VORAD radar) and really bracing for the worst. I do have some *REALLY* fancy-smancy stuff quote from one Lidar manufacturer-$100K. Gosh dern...but can it make a good cupa joe? No..well....maybe next rev, huh? Good gravy..$100K?!?! Oh man...and no pretty glossy full color brochures about this to send me? Not gonna work...can't do it. Must have at least *two* pretty full color brochures telling me how I can't even imagine living another day without *this* product. Bad enough fancy Starfire(TM) GPS is $10K easy. Ouch. Well...one things for sure, folks. We're not going to see any LIDAR systems at your local Radio Shack(tm) or Home Depot(tm) anytime soon. Dern...$100K...it all comes back to the basic...do I *REALLY* have to have all this stuff and have to spend countless hours trying to get them to work together to get it across the finish line. I just can't see it. Oh... and the million dollar question...is all it going to take a nice nice *bump* in the road and this fancy stuff to go into permanent standdown mode? Blah. Maybe the ole "you'll help save lives" speech will work will unca Bill. No? Hmmm...dunno. Where's the Maytag(tm) man when ya need em? Oh wait. I've had a Maytag..and I never needed him...sooo...hmmm.

Sigh. Oh well. Another all-nighter. Simply could not get all I wanted done...soo...here I am. Got a email reply from Darpa...no..too early to register and "reserve" a team name. Awwww. I was thinkin..."team plaid". It's sooo me...I could come as a fat scotsman-"YOU ook ike a BAAABBBY!" <giggle> Nope. Not commercial enough...would not be prudent. I need professional. Since I'm poor, I'm gonna have to run the circuit with the empty hat extended. I never liked the people with the "Will work for Food" sign. Atlanta Police don't either..so that's out. Big companies based here in Atlanta, tho. United Parcel Service is here as well as Coca-cola and Georgia Pacific. Dunno. Anyways...plenty of time for that..first things first. I need coffee..soo...first stop should be Starbucks and Nestle re: Taster's Choice. See..when you *REALLY* get hooked on 'feine, you learn some things. First, if a buzz is what you really want from your first cup, make that first cup from Instant. Why? More 'feine. Why? Instant is made by the lower-grown coffee beans called Robusta. The higher-grown (and better tasting-more expensive) Arabica beans have less, it's just that simple. Plus..there are many times when I don't want to mess with my french presses and grinder..instant is fast and easy...and Taster's Choice new Gourmet flavor is wonderful. I also sometimes drink soda and tea just for alternative 'feine delivery methods and variety. As a general rule, I don't normally buy regular drip from Starbucks. First, french press is cheaper and better. Second, they have a habit of not having the Starbuck's flavors I really like that way...the Africa coffees are great..Suliwesi and Sidamo. Costa Rican rocks as do many of the blends...Verona, Gold Coast and Yukon. Honestly..if I get any more picker, I'll be roasting the beans meself. Yes..panhandling money for Starbuck's whole bean or to build robot vehicles is not a good option. Dern. I may even have to get a...gasp...job. Oh well. $2,000,000 carrot, peoples. Can I really pull this off? Yup. I really think so.