How high has the bar been set for this year's DARPA self-driving-vehicle challenge? The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently named the 36 finalists for an autonomous driving Urban Challenge that will mimic what the military might do in the next urban conflict—or the current ones, if they drag on a couple more years.

DARPA explained the challenge to take place at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, California, with its network of urban roads typical of overseas settings: ""The robotic vehicles will conduct simulated military supply missions at the site," said DARPA director Dr. Tony Tether. "This adds many of the elements these vehicles would face in operational environments."

How tough is the course? "The vehicles must perform as well as someone with a California driver's license," Tether noted. Meaning, without human involvement, they must "obey California traffic laws while performing maneuvers such as merging into moving traffic, navigating traffic circles, and avoiding moving obstacles." Of course, that could also mean applying makeup, drinking coffee, reading the newspaper, and surfing the radio—simultaneously.

While DARPA's main goal is vehicles that could assist the military and save lives—losing a Hummer versus losing a Hummer and soldiers—there's also a peace dividend: Many of the technologies will help automakers improve some facets of autonomous driving, such as staying in lane unassisted or locating obstacles. To a computer with video eyes, the terrorist who steps into the street with a rocket launcher may look a lot like a jaywalking jogger.

Thirty-six teams take part in a semifinal faceoff Oct. 26-31, then the top 20 move on to the finals Nov. 3, with top prizes of $2 million, $1 million, and $500,000. The site had been used by the army until recently, and it's now closed while DARPA performs what it calls "clean-up operations" until Oct. 24 to get the site competition-ready. For more details, see DARPA's Grand Challenge site.

The 36 seminfinalists are: