The Pentagon's research arm selected three dozen semifinalists that will duel for limited spots in a robot challenge that tests how well autonomous vehicles can navigate city streets without human help.
Two dozen teams previously competed in a similar contest in a desert setting sponsored by DARPA, including Stanford University, whose converted Volkswagen won last year's race in the Mojave Desert. The 12 other contenders are first-time participants.
The announcement was made Thursday during DARPA's annual trade show in Anaheim.
The 36 teams will battle it out during the semifinals in October at an urban military training facility on the former George Air Force Base in Victorville. Only 20 will move on to the final race on Nov. 3.
The robotic vehicles will have to follow California traffic law while performing such tasks as merging into traffic, making sharp turns and avoiding obstacles such as utility poles, trees and parked cars _ without the help of humans or remote control.
The top three finishers that complete the obstacle course within six hours will win $2 million (�1.5 million), $1 million (�730,000), and $500,000 (�364,000), respectively.
Since 2004, DARPA has sponsored robotic competitions aimed at spurring development of autonomous military vehicles that could fight in the battlefield. The 2004 inaugural race was a bust when none of the competitors finished the desert course. Last year's winner-take-all race, also in the desert, produced five vehicles that crossed the finish line.
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On the Net:
DARPA Urban Challenge: http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge
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