In the mid 2000s, the Department of Defense R&D agency DARPA sponsored competitions in an effort to kickstart autonomous car technology. This is the story of the 2004 and 2005 challenges.Learn more about advertising on the HowStuffWorks podcasts at www.howstuffworks.com/advertisers.htmAnd to learn about your ad choices when listening to podcasts, visit https://www.howstuffworks.com/privacy.htm#ad-choices
