Re: Great opportunity for Ada application

["James S. Rogers" <jimmaureenrogers@worldnet.att.net>]

"James S. Rogers" <jimmaureenrogers@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:58D2a.49683$zF6.3324539@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> "David Marceau" <davidmarceau@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:3E4AAD59.BB77642@sympatico.ca...
> > It seems the best horses are on 1)Lockheed Martin and 2)Boeing without
> > any competition.  I saw some fly by wire stuff uav/utv on tv the other
> > night on discovery concerning the making of the X-planes.
> >
> > Whatever is competing, I think the config with the most strategic impact
> > will win and not the cheapest to mass-produce price.
> > I also think the config with the free non-used non-competition bonus
> > features will also add value if there is a tie :)  The rules are not
> > clear as to what happens if there is a tie.
> >
> > Notice the section of COMPETITION AND REPAIRS:
> > "
> > Competition
> > The goal of this competition is for the race vehicle to complete the
> > course as fast as possible.
> > Interfering with other race vehicles will not be allowed.  The following
> > will result in the
> > disqualification of a contestant:
> > Intentionally interfering with competing Race or Chase vehicles
> > Intentionally interfering with competing operators
> > Intentionally interfering, spoofing, jamming, or disturbing
> > communications used by
> > competitors or the race organizers
> > Intentionally altering the terrain with the purpose of making it more
> > difficult for
> > competitors
> >
> > Refueling and Repairs
> > Autonomous refueling and repairs will be allowed at a checkpoint.  That
> > is, equipment for
> > refurbishing the race vehicle must be set-up at the check point prior to
> > the start of the race.  Other
> > than the E-Stop, no human (or other biological entity) may send commands
> > to or otherwise control
> > the equipment once the race begins.
> > "
> > Obviously fuel cells are important here :)
> >
> > Can't interfere with other cars....hmmm I thought all is fair in love
> > and war.
> > Zapping another car before, during and after the competition without
> > getting caught seems to be still legal.
> > It's like doping in the olympics :)  All the intention disqualification
> > capabilities could be considered as an added-value bonus feature if
> > there is a tie.  If there is a tie, these added features could prove
> > their worth in the second round :)

If anyone is curious about what might go into such a system, from
the software point of view, please look at
http://www.jauswg.org/baseline
Click on the link to the reference architecture.
This will connect you to a MS Word document describing the
current software architecture encouraged by the U.S. Department
of Defense for robotic systems.

As a side note, Boeing is currently looking for bids on several
unmanned ground vehicles for various uses. Boeing is requiring
adherence to the JAUS Reference Architecture mentioned
above. One vehicle, a 5 ton truck with sensors and other
gadgets, has a planned 39 month development cycle.
A small company with deep pockets, but lacking the
bureaucratic overhead of Boeing might be able to build
a similar system in about two years.

Jim Rogers