Fontana, US, Mar 09: Calling all robotic vehicles from easy rider-style driverless motorcycles to people-free hummers: You can win a million dollars by crossing a mere 320 km of the California desert. All you have to do is not hit anything -- like jack rabbits, rocks, tortoises, trees or camping tourists. The robotic race, sponsored by the Pentagon`s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), starts on saturday in a remote section of the Mojave desert as up to 21 vehicles embark on the driverless race. The winner, if there is one, will get 1 million dollars but some are betting that at the end of the day peace and quiet will still reign at one location -- the finishing line. `I would bet my life savings against anyone being able to do it..." said Bill Zimmerly, who runs Ballwin, Missouri-based team Phantasm with retired marine Warren Williams.
DARPA director, Tony Tether told reporters that one day such driverless autonomous vehicles, guided by such devices as infra-red sensors, will be able to bring supplies like water and fuel to the U.S. military during a conflict.
He noted that private Jessica Lynch was on just such a mission when she was injured and captured in Iraq. ``In future with this technology those trucks will be able to drive themselves and we will save countless lives,`` Tether said.
If no-one completes the race it will be run again in 18 months.
The vehicles have to complete the course which runs from Barstow, California to the Nevada border town of Primm.
Environmentalists have raised concerns about the potential threat the race poses to endangered species including the desert tortoise.

Bureau Report