DARPA Urban Challenge to Offer Prizes! Poor Robot Builders Rejoice

The folks from the DARPA Urban challenge have issued a press release (PDF) detailing the prizes for the competition. The top three finishers will now be awarded $2,000,000 USD, $1,000,000 USD, and $500,000 USD respectively. Originally, they were only going to offer trophies to the winners due to the passage of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act. Now, thanks to Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Ken Krieg, winners will now receive cash prizes.

The race will take place November 3rd at a yet-undisclosed-location in the USA.