Innovative Laser Measurement System sensors (LMS) were used by teams that placed in the top three slots of the DARPA Urban Challenge, which took place November 3, 2007. The first-place winner, Carnegie Mellon University’s Tartan Racing, as well as Stanford Racing (second place) and Virginia Tech’s Victor Tango (third place) all relied on sensors from SICK. Tartan Racing received $2 million for winning the race.

The sensors use laser radar technology to help the vehicle navigate the terrain and avoid obstacles. In the 2007 Urban Challenge, the sensors were used to locate curbs and ditches, detect people and other vehicles, and to see elevation changes in the roadway.

Peter King from Victor Tango states, "As technology progresses, sensor output is always augmented by the SICK LMS units. The accuracy and precision of the LMS Sensors make SICK the first choice for smaller obstacle detection. Victor Tango uses four SICK LMS 291s on Odin. These are mounted on the top and pointed downward to give a view in front of the vehicle and the sides to cover the blind spot. The LMS units offer a curb finding solution and a driveable coverage area solution.”

The Urban Challenge – sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – pits driverless vehicles against one another on a course that challenged the vehicles’ self-guidance systems to find their way through a mock urban setting. Vehicles must avoid obstacles, merge into traffic, negotiate intersections, and other challenges in a mock traffic environment. The race is intended to further advance research and development of autonomous vehicles for use in future military operations.