Welcome to KD's public DARPA project link <this is a quick - nothing webpage containing information for now, when we have something worth showing we will spend some time making a nice looking sight.>

Update : We now have a real website address www.SimpleSolutionsInclusive.com / www.ssi0.com / www.ssinc.us (choose which ever one you think is the most clever).

Update : After attending DARPA competitors conference Mini-ME vehicle development is shelved indefinitely (Mini-ME could never have a 200 mile range as original designed / envisioned, and definitely not in the under $1000 category).

Update: got the rules a course from last years race and redesigned the target race vehicle. New target vehicle is something I can build in my garage. Mini-ME development postponed, acquire parts for new vehicle <currently working names S.S.I.K. (Simple Solutions Inclusive Kar) and C.C.A.M. (Confused Custom Autonomous Motorcycle; 4 wheels, but made from a lot of motorcycle parts)>.

Update: I drove the vehicle pictured below around the neighborhood, then interfaced an X-Box controller to it and got everything running. I had been using the fuses turn it off (as the off switch, really wasn't off) and the connected the fuse back with the throttle wide open (OOPS reverse those wires on the pot) causing a line on the circuit board to burn off (easily repairable).
Note on time - build frame 2 after work nights. Cut and attached scooters, attached casters, hooked up minimal controls, braced, etc. Sunday morning through early afternoon. Rewired with Xbox controls Saturday morning.

Here is the first prototype of the vehicle (code name Mini-ME). It was intended to have all the wheels replaced and 2 more motors plus enough batteries to drive 10-30 miles. Goal of Mini-ME to go further than CMU did on their first try for less than $1000.

The team so far

KD (Michael Kadie) The man who decided to do this in the first place :) Initial design discussion, built first prototype of the vehicle. <click here to see junkyard wars build done by KD and crew>

Frank Jungman (the organized one) Initial design discussion, electronics expert.

Howard Rittberg (the person with the safety equipment) Initial design discussion, experience with off-road vehicles and off-road vehicle GPS systems

Uncle Don (Don McKeith) Vehicle expert and all around good ol boy.

Neighbor Terry - sanity checker, generalist, and he with whom ideas are bounced.

Last Updated May 19, 2005