2006Past Autonomous Vehicles
at
Virginia Tech
Chimera
Chimera represented a new and exciting addition to the Virginia Tech autonomous vehicle fleet. Innovations to vehicle included two low-profile camera masts that replace the taller mast found on previous vehicles, a fully independent suspension, a streamlined weatherproof body enclosure, and a touch screen human interface device to control and monitor all functions of the vehicle. It placed first in the Design Competition in 2006.
2006
Optimus
Optimus was a three or four wheel vehicle built for the 2003 competition. It had features such as a hot swap for the batteries, a layered structure, and organized electronics. It placed first in the Autonomous Challenge, second in the Navigation Challenge, second in Follow the Leader, and second in the Design Competition. Follow the Leader is no longer held in competition.
2003
2004
Zieg
Zieg was a redesign of a previous vehicle. It also featured "hot swap" batteries but was only a three wheeled vehicle. The structuring for Zieg was based upon the successfull Artemis vehicle design. Though long and slender, Zieg still performed well by winning second in the Autonomous Challenge and third in the Design Competition.
2003
Artemis
Artemis was one of Virginia Tech's best vehicles. It was based on a 3 wheel design that laid the path for the future vehicles to perform so well. It utilized a smaller, easier to maneuver frame. Artemis placed second in the Autonomous Challenge and second in Follow the Leader in 2001. In 2000, Artemis placed first in the Autonomous Challenge, first in Follow the Leader, and first in the Road Debris Challenge. The Road Debris Challenge is no longer held. The Artemis chassis was the basis for Zieg the following year.
1999
2000
2001
Scavenger
The vehicle had a six legged design that moved based on a modified tripod gait. It moved by using its center legs to lift one side of the vehicle off the ground while the front and back legs move the vehicle forward.
Bi-Planar Bicycle
This vehicle was made of two bicycle wheels, motors, and some electrical controls. The two-wheeled design gave it remarkable mobility and surpassed the three or four wheeled vehicles in that respect. Bi-Planar received first in the Design Competition in 2002.
2002
2002
Daedalus
This vehicle was designed to be lightweight, durable, and cost efficient. It had a custom molded shell and reused parts from the previous year. Daedalus placed third in the Design Competition in 2002.
2002
Autonomous Lawn Mower
This vehicle was an actual lawn mower that was donated. It was used for testing to improve the navigation systems in the autonomous vehicles. It tested new items as well as alternate navigation systems.
Maximus
This vehicle was a basis for the design of Daedalus and was based on a design that put the center of gravity directly on the center axis of the wheels. Maximus competed in 2001 and placed fourth in the Autonomous Challenge, second in the Navigation Challenge, and second in the Navigation Challenge.
2001
Navigator
This vehicle was the first to employ the use of a navigational algorithm called the Vector Field Histogram. It had dual cameras and used C++ instead of LabVIEW for its software. In 2000, it placed first in the Design Competition, fifth Navigation Challenge, third in the Road Debris Challenge, and third in Follow the Leader. In 2001, it placed third in the Autonomous Challenge, third in the Design Competition, fourth in the Navigation Challenge, and third in Follow the Leader.
2001
2000
Note: Virginia Tech competed before 2000, but in order to not be too repetitive the results were not posted. For more information on the results before 2000 please visit www.igvc.org/deploy/results.htm