Environmental Assessment for the DARPA Grand Challenge
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has proposed to conduct
a research event known as the Grand Challenge for Autonomous Ground Vehicles
on California and Nevada lands in March, 2004. In an attempt to accelerate
the development of autonomous vehicle technology, qualified, autonomous,
unmanned vehicles would navigate along a specific route in compliance with
parameters provided by DARPA. All vehicles would be under the control of
DARPA during the event.
The DARPA Grand Challenge stems from a Congressional directive for the
military to gain the ability for vehicles to navigate unmanned and unaided
in a variety of terrain. The root of this authorization is that for every
unmanned vehicle deployed in combat, American military personnel are removed
from harm's way. Such vehicles need to be able to make "intelligent"
navigational decisions in the field, in addition to being able to accurately
follow preset instructions based on a previously surveyed route or path.
The purpose of the Challenge is to leverage American ingenuity to accelerate
the development of autonomous vehicle technologies and apply technologies
to military requirements.
DARPA and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have cooperatively prepared
this EA, as federal co-lead agencies, in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This EA includes the assessment of four
action alternatives and the No Action Alternative. This document has been
posted on this website and public comments were received prior to the
Bureau making its decision.
1. Executive
Summary and Table of Contents
2. Chapter 1 - Introduction
3. Chapter 2 - Alternatives
4. Chapter 3 - Affected
Environment
5. Chapter 4 - Environmental
Consequences
6. Chapter 5 - Document
Support and Maps
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