Autonomous Vehicles
Reliable electronic communication is an important requirement
to ensure safe operation of technically complex vehicles
and machines. Fault-tolerant electronics were therefore
essential for the autonomous vehicles that competed in the
DARPA Grand Challenge. The desert race was aimed at creating
independently acting vehicles capable of competing on a
280 kilometers off-road course within a time limit of 10
hours.
| The Red
Team was formed by the robotic experts of the Carnegie
Mellon University. Both Red Team vehicles, the AM General
Hummer "H1ghlander" as well as the "Sandstorm",
constituted sophisticated high-tech machines. They were
equipped with cameras, navigation sensors, and laser
range scanners that mapped the terrain. |
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The robotic vehicles deployed "drive-by-wire"
technology, in which on-board computers control steering,
braking and other movements. The Red Team made use of TTControl's
know-how to ensure safe data communication between the high-tech
controllers. TTControl supplied a safe time-triggered data
communication network that consisted of four powerful multi-purpose
units.
More information can be found in Red
Team Case Study or Sandstorm
Video.
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