CajunBot-II: Driving (to) the Future

Arun LakhotiaThe Center for Advanced

Computer StudiesUniversity of Louisiana at

Lafayette

Agenda DARPA Grand Challenge Lessons learned

Economic Development Quiz Which comes first?

A. Trained PersonnelB. Industry

• Answer: • Neither, and it’s the wrong question• Very smart people are everywhere• Need to be challenged to reach their potential

• Correct question:• How do we challenge our young?

CajunBot story Challenged students and faculty

To perform beyond their expectations To compete in a “grand” challenge research Against the best in the world

Result Impact across the university and community Built self-confidence Triggered others to participate in such challenge

DARPA Grand Challenges Mandate by US Congress (In 2001)

Replace 1/3rd of Ground Vehicles in combat by Autonomous Vehicles

By 2015 Charge given to DARPA

US DoD’s premier research agency Sponsored research leading to Internet, smart

bombs, etc. Decided to push research by an open challenge

2004 Grand ChallengeDrive 150+ miles (270+ Km) autonomously in Mojave Desert

2004 Challenge Terrain

CajunBot

CajunBot in action

CajunBot performance

CajunBot-II

Team CajunBot

CajunBot in Urban Challenge

CajunBot performance Amongst 43 teams reaching semifinals

In DARPA’s top few teams to watch Eliminated in semi-final

Amongst top performer in two tests Crashed in third test

CajunBot in Media

National/International Media

Local Media

CajunBot Day in Louisiana

Lessons Learned

Lesson 1: Its all in the attitude Louisiana attitude

Self-flogging Focus on all that is wrong Not appreciate what you have Aim low, so you will not fail

CajunBot attitude Impossible is nothing Others earned their keep; we got to earn ours Take your licks; and keep going for more

MAX IV ATV

Nov 2003

Started work

=> CajunBot

March2004

CajunBotTime line

Lesson 2: Choose competitors Common wisdom:

You are defined by the company you keep CajunBot experience:

You are defined by your competitors

Lesson 3 Choose ‘Area’ wisely Choice of area defines growth potential

Spent 10 years in ‘reverse engineering’ Very difficult to attract students, collaborators,

funds, media excitement Entered Robotics three years ago

Several hundred thousand dollars from university Over forty students ‘touched’ directly Five collaborators Several sponsors Media overdose

Lesson 4: Don’t box yourself People identify themselves by their degrees

and training: Computer Scientist working on tools to reverse

engineer legacy systems Identity defines what you do

and also What you do not do Most people are multifaceted Degrees should not limit what you can do

Computer Science/Engg guys changing transmission

Lesson 5: Aim high, people will follow Reasons for not aiming high

No support from community, family Resources needed do not exist

CajunBot lesson No dearth of resources in community People love to support risk takers

Majors of Melville – gave ATV on a phone call Chance of C&C – gave equipment worth several $100K Lafayette Motors – new Jeep Firefly – Web support Pixus – Decals Honda of Lafayette – Generator “2 the max ATV” – a full new ATV to use for spare parts

Angels in the Desert

Gave new ATV to use as spare parts bin

Lesson 6: Do not underestimate your local talents Attitude in Louisiana

Consider ourselves second Limit ourselves on what we can do

CajunBot experience shows Plenty of talents around Not enough opportunities to challenge the talent

2005 Team CajunBot Berwick High Baton Rouge High Catholic High, New Iberia Slidell High Kenner High Lafayette High Carencro Comeaux India, Nigeria, China

Lesson 7: Buy, don’t build Common attitude

I can build it myself Will save money

CajunBot experience Started with buying inexpensive equipment Spent time in chasing wrong problems Finally bought the more expensive equipment People, even students, are not free 2007 GC

Acquired the best sensors

Lesson 8: Team fails, not individuals Common attitude

Pin fault to an individual CajunBot experience

Failures result from succession of poor judgment Team succeeds together; team fails together

Lesson 9: Don’t underestimate your competitors Common attitude

Gauge competition by their past performance CajunBot experience

Team Gray of Gray Insurance Company outperformed us (and everyone else)

Insurance company beat us

Lesson 10: Have fun Don’t take yourself too seriously Excitement of challenge also wears off

Future

DOD: Robotic Systems Single autonomous system not sufficient DOD expects collection of autonomous

robots

Robotic Systems: Bottleneck Critical path technology

Software Human computer interface Training of personnel

Testing requires Need fully equipped, functioning vehicles Trained personnel Testing area

Our proposal: Move testing and training to virtual world

CajunBot in LITE