Prospect 11, Ford Pickup truck, at race site behind another van

About Us

Our Leadership Team

Arav Raval ’26

Co-President

Eshaan Govil ’26

Co-President

Alexei Korolev ’27

Head of Computer Vision

Erin Lin ’26

Head of Finance & Marketing

Anupta Argo ’26

Head of R&D

Chris Ganter ’27

Head of Mechanical

Celebrating 20 Years of PAVE

2024

PAVE drives towards new endeavors

To celebrate its 20 years of history, PAVE is paying homage to its origins while entering new territory. PAVE will begin the development of an autonomous lightweight land racer, similar to that of a dune buggy or golf cart. The project hopes to be the catalyst for an inter-university racing league that takes place across different campuses. 

2018 – 2023

PAVE returns to competition

After a hiatus, PAVE returns with a renewed mission to enter competitive challenges. Despite setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, PAVE  enters the hydroplane Le Papillon into the unmanned section of the Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) competition. 

ten foot boat with electric motor and sensor tower bolted on.
Staff and students onlooking Prospect 12 Ford Vehicle with attached sensors

2011 – 2014

PAVE pivots to research

With fewer available competitions and growing interest in research, PAVE shifted to work on in-house projects. The team continued to work on ARM and Prospect 12, hoping to improve the autonomous capabilities of the latter to pass the NJ State Driving Exam. During this period, PAVE continued to promote and publish autonomous vehicle research on the Princeton campus. 

Spring 2010

PAVE continues to shine at IGVC

For the third year in a row, PAVE shined at IGVC. The team returned with Phoebeter, a new robot based on the design of Argos. The robot was award 2nd place in the design challenge and won overall acclaim its robot design and technical paper.

PAVE also started to shift towards research, starting the Autonomous Robotic Manipulator (ARM) project.

Phoebeter, large, dark-gray robot with tall sensor system sits in grass
Argos, large, black robot with tall sensor system sits in grass

Spring 2009

Argos takes 1st

PAVE returned to the 2009 IGVC with Argos. An entirely new and redesigned robot, the team won first place in the navigation / waypoint-following challenge, improving from their previous performance.

Spring 2008

Kratos takes IGVC by storm

After the discontinuation of DARPA challenges, PAVE pivoted to the 2008 Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC). At the 2008 IGVC, PAVE won 1st place for its technical paper and design presentation. PAVE’s vehicle, Kratos, also placed 4th in the waypoint-following challenge and 6th in the lane-following challenge. Most impressively, PAVE finished 3rd out of 47 teams and was designated “Rookie Of The Year”. 

Kratos, large, light-gray robot with tall sensor system and triangular base sits in grass
Side view of Prospect 12, an autonomous Ford SUV vehicle.

Winter 2007

Prospect Twelve is a Semifinalist

Prospect Twelve, a vehicle generously donated by Ford Motor Company, competes in the DARPA Urban Challenge 2007. Again, PAVE passed several qualification tests and became one of 35 semifinalists of the Urban Challenge. 

Spring 2005

Prospect Eleven Qualifies

PAVE debuted its vehicle, Prospect Eleven, at the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. The driverless vehicle passed numerous qualifications, seeding 10th out of 23 finalists in the desert race. 

GMC truck self navigating in the desert, rear side view
PAVE students discussing with Professor Kornhauser at DARPA competition

Spring 2004

PAVE is formed

In Professor Alain Kornhauser’s Transportation class, a group of students watched the unfolding of the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge. With no team travelling more than 7.5 miles on a 150+ mile course, the students decided to create a competitive DARPA Grand Challenge Team at Princeton University.