Search and rescueRobots compete in performing emergency response task
Sixteen robots participating in the DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials last month performed such tasks as opening doors or climbing a ladder, all tasks aimed to speed the development of robots that could one day perform a number of critical, real-world, emergency response tasks at natural and human-made disaster sites. While most of the entries were engineered to resemble humanoids with two legs, JPL’s RoboSimian tackled tasks like climbing over rough terrain on all four of its limbs.
Rescue robot removing victim to safety // Source: baoanhdatmui.vn
Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, was the place to be late last month for an unusual two-day competition: the DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials. If you went expecting high-octane cars zooming around the track at blazing speed, however, you might have been disappointed. The sixteen robots participating in the challenge moved more like the tortoise than the hare, as they performed such tasks as opening doors or climbing a ladder; tasks aimed to speed the development of robots that could one day perform a number of critical, real-world, emergency-response tasks at natural and human-made disaster sites.
A NASA/JPL release reports that after the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, the U.S. government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) created the Robotics Challenge. Its goal is to develop ground robots that can work in dangerous, degraded, human-engineered environments.
At the Miami Speedway, the robots competed against each other in a series of tasks, each worth a maximum of four points. Tasks were subdivided into parts depending on the number of sub-tasks involved. For instance, if there were three doors for the robots to open, each part was worth one point, and so on. The fourth and final point was a bonus awarded if the robot completed all three tasks without any direct (physical) human intervention. Each team had thirty minutes to complete a task.
The release notes that while most of the entries were engineered to resemble humanoids with two legs, JPL’s RoboSimian tackled tasks like climbing over rough terrain on all four of its limbs (thus the Simian part of the
name). Robosimian placed fifth out of sixteen teams competing. Only the top eight were named “finalists” and will get the opportunity to receive continued DARPA funding to compete in the Robotics Finals event in late 2014. These teams will be among those battling to win a $2 million prize.
Check out a video of RoboSimian competing in various challenges at the Miami Speedway.
