| On November 3, 2007, the Volkswagen of America, | | | | Challenge will ultimately make driving safer and more |
| Incorporated and Stanford University will participate in | | | | enjoyable in today's increasingly dense traffic. |
| the DARPA Urban Challenge with a completely | | | | Rummel added that with Passat as a fuel efficient |
| autonomous 2006 diesel-powered Passat wagon. | | | | vehicle, they have the perfect vehicle for the job; just |
| The robotic Passat will compete on a 60-mile mock | | | | as the Touareg 'Stanley' was for the desert race a |
| urban course. But this is not an ordinary course | | | | couple of years ago. |
| because it involves merging with traffic, crossing traffic | | | | In 2005, Volkswagen brought home the two-million |
| circles and negotiating busy intersections while | | | | dollar grand prize at the DARPA Grand Challenge with |
| following traffic laws. The Passat wagon was named | | | | a diesel powered Touareg named Stanley. The car |
| 'Junior' in respect to the founder of Stanford University | | | | defeated 22 other unmanned vehicles in a rigorous, |
| by the name of Leland Stanford Jr. | | | | 132-mile championship race over rough desert roads, |
| The Passat is equipped with electromechanical power | | | | mountain trails, dry lake beds and tunnels. What VW is |
| steering and electric throttle, gear shifter and parking | | | | proud of is Stanley s using of only onboard sensors |
| brake. To be completely computer-controllable, these | | | | and navigation equipment. Stanley performed |
| electric systems as well as the brakes were modified | | | | flawlessly and achieved victory after six hours and |
| by the Volkswagen of America's Electronics | | | | thirty five minutes. |
| Research Laboratory (ERL). Also designed and built at | | | | Founded in 1998, the Volkswagen of America |
| the ERL were custom mountings for the wide array of | | | | Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) focuses on |
| sophisticated sensors. Making up the car's "brains" are | | | | providing customers with smarter cars, sooner. It aims |
| Intel Core 2 Duo processors, including multiple | | | | to identify new technologies, such as a VW accessory |
| processing units per chips. The car will be truly | | | | and accelerate their development into future |
| autonomous together with the software developed at | | | | production vehicles. Located in Palo Alto, California, the |
| the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL). | | | | ERL is the only laboratory of its kind representing the |
| Dr. Carlo Rummel, Executive Director of Volkswagen | | | | Volkswagen Group in North America. Its presence at |
| of America's Electronics Research Laboratory said | | | | the center of Silicon Valley allows the Volkswagen |
| after their victory at the last DARPA Grand Challenge, | | | | Group to work directly with the world's leading high |
| Volkswagen is excited to join again for the 2007 | | | | technology companies and start-ups. Working closely |
| DARPA Urban Challenge. He further said he is seeing | | | | with these partners allows the ERL to design and |
| an opportunity to further advance intelligent | | | | develop innovative features and applications, which are |
| technologies for use in passenger vehicles of the | | | | then integrated with Group vehicles for evaluation and |
| future and the features developed for the Urban | | | | testing. |