DARPA

Chapter Nine Case: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge
The goal of the DARPA Grand Challenge is to save lives by making one-third of ground military forces autonomous or driverless vehicles. Created in response to a congressional and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) mandate, the DARPA Grand Challenge brings together individuals and organizations from industry, the research and development (R&D) community, government, the armed services, and academia and includes students, backyard inventors, and automotive enthusiasts.
The DARPA Grand Challenge 2004
The DARPA Grand Challenge 2004 field test of autonomous ground vehicles ran from Barstow, California, to Primm, Nevada, and offered a $1 million prize. From the qualifying round at the California Speedway, 15 finalists emerged to attempt the Grand Challenge. However, the prize went unclaimed when no vehicles were able to complete the difficult desert route.
The DARPA Grand Challenge 2005
The DARPA Grand Challenge 2005 was held in the Mojave Desert and offered a $2 million prize to the team that completed the 132-mile course in the shortest time under 10 hours. The race, over desert terrain, included narrow tunnels, sharp turns, and a winding mountain pass with a sheer drop-off on one side and a rock face on the other. Five teams completed the course, and “Stanley,” the Stanford Racing Team’s car, won the $2 million prize with a time of 6 hours, 53 minutes.
DARPA Robotic Challenge 2015
Machines with human-like abilities have been portrayed in movies and books for a long time. Now they are coming to life at the DARPA Robotics Challenge, a program created to accelerate progress in AI development that would allow them to move into areas too dangerous for humans along with mitigating natural or man-made disasters. The $2 million first prize was awarded to the Korean team that built robot DRC-Hubo. The $1 million second prize was awarded to the Florida team that built Running Man. The Challenge was a huge success and advances in robotics are being seen in areas around the globe.
After reading the case study, answer the following questions in at least 250 words (total):

How is the DoD using AI to improve its operations and save lives?
Why would the DoD use an event like the DARPA Grand Challenge or DARPA Robotic Challenge to further technological innovation?

Your original response should follow APA formatting, and should include at least one (1) properly cited reference.
After answering the question above, be sure to reply to two classmates. Each reply should be at least 100 words in length.