We got the results of the second qualification run, and it looks like we improved to about 17th. Because of the way they score the event, each competitor will keep the better of the first two runs. So we really can't tell where we are overall. But we felt pretty good about the improvement. There were 13 competitors who were able to complete the course, but several were different than the first run. The Cornell team in the next garage finished with a good time on the first run and crashed on the second.

We only saw action on the practice course today. The sequencing draw put us early on the first two runs, but late for the next one. So we worked a practice session and worked on software. The software team found a number of calibration, computation, and communication issues that seem to explain the problems we encountered on the last run. Most were small but problems of navigation and guidance tend to accumulate.

We?ll be pushing a new release of the software to the Jeep early this morning for an early practice session. This will be release 10.

We?re tracking progress of the 3rd qualification runs, and it looks like our next run will be Sunday afternoon. Since they close the track at 4pm Sunday we might slip a day. We could sure use the time. The software team is dealing with some very subtle and complex issues of timing and math.

The hardware team is making good use of the time as well. The overworked shock bumper got some reinforcement. The stabilized platform needed adjustment to the full-down-limit switch. The hood is riding a little higher after our "high speed concrete" test, and when we lowered the platform it contacted the hood.

The power distribution system has been acting up and received an emergency rewiring. A replacement arrived but Scott and Doug decided not to introduce another change as long as it keeps working. The power subsystem includes 12 volt, 24 volt, 110 volt and 220 volt supplies supported by two alternators and a 13 HP generator.

Lots of attention to the technology we?ve deployed. Everyone wants to see the stabilized platform work.

Back in Ontario for dinner at Rosa's. Overheard a dinner conversation at the next table that included an explanation of how DARPA maps waypoints and distributes to the teams. Sounded as if they had been spectators for several runs at the track. The event is getting lots of attention locally.