Riegl 3D Laser Scanners in DARPA Grand Challenge

Robotic vision and image processing for autonomous vehicle navigation have long been feedstocks of innovation for 3D laser scanning – today this is where next-generation concepts for dynamic survey are being implemented, tested and field-hardened. An example is this year’s DARPA Grand Challenge, in which seven teams are using Riegl 3D laser scanners in their vehicles.The Grand Challenge is the final competition round in DARPA’s Urban Challenge, an autonomous vehicle R & D program aimed at developing technology to keep warfighters off the battlefield and out of harm’s way. The Urban Challenge features autonomous ground vehicles maneuvering in a mock city environment, executing simulated military supply missions while merging into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles, negotiating busy intersections, and avoiding obstacles. Teams using Riegl technology include Gray Team, Intelligent Vehicle Safety Technologies (Desert Tortoise and Desert Hare), Red Team (CMU), Red Team Too (CMU), Team Cal Tech, and The Mitre Meteorites.