Instead of modifying a sport utility vehicle intended for mild off-road outings, we are using powerful off-road 4x4 vehicles tailored precisely to the requirements of this challenge. Unlike many teams in this competition, we recognize the benefits a superior mechanical platform can provide. Even the best autonomous control systems will not be able to handle all situations and, inevitably, the vehicle will stray off-road; a situation a typical commercial vehicle is not equipped for. Having a durable and rugged base vehicle will allow us to overcome obstacles that would easily incapacitate our competitors.

Suspension travel and articulation plays a key role on both our vehicles. This yields superior obstacle accommodation and a more stable platform. Durability is also a top priority; heavy-duty axles and driveshafts, tube-frame construction, and large, bead-locked tires are optimal for punishing desert terrain.

Having a vehicle which can both reliably travel over 150 grueling desert miles is crucial to completing the course. To this end we are using two highly capable vehicles, Code Red and Titan:

	Code Red is a custom built vehicle, designed by our team from the ground up to be an amazingly capable platform for our sensing platform. Riding on 38" tires, Code Red can handle virtually any terrain that could be encountered in the desert. It's suspension geometry was originally designed for rock crawling, an extreme variant of off-road racing; this vehicle is designed to tackle rough terrain.					Titan is based on a military light strike vehicle, designed to handle demanding combat situations. It's the perfect host for our sensing platform. Titan's rugged spaceframe and proven drivetrain are lightweight and durable, allowing it to support sensors and computers without sacrificing performance. It's suspension system can traverse a 50% side slope and handle a 60% hill gradient.