Stanley

A blue, logo covered self-driving car with a roof rack full of electronics drives on asphalt.
Six computers worked together to drive Stanley. Photo: Stanford University

Stanley is an autonomous Volkswagen Touareg that won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. It completed the 212-kilometer (132-mile) desert course in the shortest time and claimed the $2 million prize.

Creator

Stanford University

Year
2005
Country
United States 🇺🇸
Categories
Features
Sebastian Thrun on winning the DARPA Grand Challenge. Video: Stanford University

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Did you know?

More than 100,000 lines of code were used to give Stanley autonomous capabilities.

Close up of electronics mounted on a roof rack.
One of the key sensors was a LIDAR used for 3D mapping. Photo: Stanford University
The blue car's trunk is open, and has two racks full of servers and electronics. It's rear says Powered by Diesel.
The hardware was crammed into the trunk. Photo: Stanford University

Specs

Overview

Equipped with AI software that integrates sensor data and uses machine learning and probabilistic reasoning to make driving decisions.

Status

Discontinued

Year

2005

Website
Width
192.8 cm
Length
475.4 cm
Weight
2400 kg (car only)
Speed
61.2 km/h (top speed during race)
Sensors

Camera, two radars, GPS, six-axis inertial measurement unit, five Sick laser range finders.

Actuators

One DC motor attached to the steering column and one linear actuator attached to the gear shift (to change between drive, reverse, and parking). Custom interface for direct electronic actuation of throttle and brakes. Car engine: turbocharged five-cylinder in-line diesel.

Compute

Six Intel Pentium M computers, Gigabit Ethernet switch, and sensor interfaces.

Software

Linux OS. Custom software.

Power

Vehicle alternator and custom power system with backup batteries