The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to sponsor a 2004 race of autonomous ground vehicles from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas, according to the DARPA Web site. DARPA views its "Grand Challenge" as a way to "encourage the accelerated development of autonomous vehicle technologies that could be applied to military requirements." The winning vehicle will be eligible for a "cash prize," DARPA says, unless it is sponsored by a U.S. government agency. Las Vegas is approximately 270...