Robot Makes 200-mile Autonomous Run

Carnegie Mellon's Sandstorm Robot Makes Unprecedented 200-mile Autonomous Run

Now how's this for impressive? Carnegie Mellon's robot for the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge was put to a test run, and went 200 miles in seven hours without a driver. Speaks volumes about this year's entries, really -- from a "no one finished" to a real race in only a couple of years is downright astounding.

The drive was an endurance evaluation for the robot's computers, sensors and mechanical systems. The machine averaged 28 miles per hour and hit a top speed of 36 miles per hour to complete its 7-hour, 200-mile marathon.