| Volkswagen of America, Inc. has announced recently | | | | with the addition of the software developed at the |
| that it will participate in this year's DARPA Urban | | | | Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab makes the Passat |
| Challenge with Stanford University on November 3, | | | | wagon truly autonomous. |
| 2007. The entry of VW for the said competition is its | | | | Dr. Carlo Rummel executive director of Volkswagen |
| completely autonomous 2006 diesel-powered Passat | | | | of America's Electronics Research Laboratory |
| wagon which is equipped with only the best auto parts | | | | commented "After our victory at the last DARPA |
| that Europe's largest automaker can provide. As a | | | | Grand Challenge, Volkswagen is excited to join the |
| fact even its Volkswagen valve cover gasket was | | | | 2007 DAPRA Urban Challenge. We see an |
| specially made just for the Passat wagon. | | | | opportunity to further advance intelligent technologies |
| The highly mechanical Passat will compete on a | | | | for use in passenger vehicles of the future. The |
| 60-mile simulated urban course that would include | | | | features developed for the Urban Challenge will |
| merging with traffic, negotiating with busy intersection | | | | ultimately make driving safer and more enjoyable in |
| and crossing traffic circles while keeping with the | | | | today's increasing dense traffic." Dr. Rummel also |
| traffic laws. | | | | added, "With the fuel efficient Passat, we have the |
| The Passat wagon which is named Junior is a tribute | | | | perfect vehicle for the job; just like our Touareg |
| to Leland Stanford Jr. who is the founder of Stanford | | | | 'Stanley' was for the desert race in 2005." |
| University. It is equipped with electromechanical power | | | | It should be noted that for the 2005 DARPA Grand |
| steering and electric throttle, gear shifter and parking | | | | Challenge Volkswagen was able to win the two-million |
| brake. The electric system and the brakes of the | | | | dollar grand prize with its diesel powered Touareg |
| Passat wagon were modified by Volkswagen of | | | | named Stanley. The Touareg defeated 22 unmanned |
| America's Electronics Research Laboratory to turn it | | | | vehicles in a drooling, 132-mile championship race which |
| into a complete computer controlled vehicle. Similarly | | | | includes driving through rough desert roads, dry lake |
| the custom mountings for its array of sophisticated | | | | beds and tunnels, mountain trails, and using only |
| sensors were specially created and built at the ERL. | | | | onboard navigation and sensors. Touareg was able to |
| The brain of the car is comprised of Intel Core 2 Duo | | | | finish the race after 6 hours 35 minutes with very little |
| processors with multiple processing units per chip and | | | | effort. |