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DARPA
Grand Challenge

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


Page last updated: 2004-02-18 11:30:03.493

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