Meeting w/Kevin Hussey/JPL/Mgr of Visualization Technology Applications & Development, towards STEM/Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics Outreach

pivotal meeting, between Dr. Yen & Kevin Hussey (currently JPL Mgr of Visualization Technology Applications and Development. (Kevin has a real desire to see STEM/Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics Outreach made more popular). Kevin is formerly Manager of Information Technology for Disney Feature Animation, and was responsible for enhancing and maintaining the Academy Award winning CAPS/Computer Animation Production System.

We are trying to relate current outreach ideas for Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory "Curiosity" Mars Lander (scheduled for 2011 launch, a "Way Out offroad rockcrawler on Mars"), with existing Real World Knowledge of Offroad Racing. Can it happen? Who is going to pay for such a Collaborative/Cooperative effort? JPL/Education, NSF/National Science Foundation Outreach, ONR/Office of Naval Research (who fronts for the Army & Navy, for the future successor to the Humvee military vehicle), DARPA/Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (who already did a Desert Racing effort for an "Autonomous vehicle", the DARPA Grand Challenge, followed by the Urban Challenge).

We are trying to relate current Needs for Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory "Curiosity" Mars Lander (scheduled for 2011 launch, a "Way Out offroad rockcrawler on Mars"), with existing Real World Knowledge of Offroad Racing. Can it happen? Who is going to pay for such a Collaborative/Cooperative effort? JPL/Education, NSF/National Science Foundation Outreach, ONR/Office of Naval Research (who fronts for the Army & Navy, for the future successor to the Humvee military vehicle), DARPA/Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (who already did a Desert Racing effort for an "Autonomous vehicle", the DARPA Grand Challenge, followed by the Urban Challenge).

Specifically, Short Course Offroad Racing, i.e. CORR (R.I.P.), TORC, LOORS. Rockcrawling ("slow & steady wins the race") is also another niche-market could be added to the program. Note that there is currently a cross-over between Desert Racing & Rockcrawling, as evidenced by involvement in KOTH (King of the Hammers, major Rockcrawling event) by Desert Offroad Racers like

- Casey Currie
outstanding rockcrawling performance at KOTH 2009

- Pistol Pete Sohren (aka "The Mullet")
a threat to win, just needs some Sponsorship for his team

- Rob MacCachren
coming in 2010, the experienced veteran who is "cleaning up " in Desert Racing)

- BJ Baldwin
coming in 2011, the young-gun 2-time SCORE Trophy Truck champion, son of Bobby Baldwin)


The reverse path has also been tried, with Shannon Campbell (famous iconic Rockcrawler champion) trying his hand in CORR Short Course Racing in 2008.