The DARPA Robotic Challenge (DRC) has begun, through which the defence agency will fund selected teams to create hardware and software for robots to assist humans during emergency situations. The winning team gets $2 million.
The DRC Simulator
DARPA also provides the open-source DRC simulator for skilled software developers from around the world to participate in the challenge. The simulator is currently in its beta version and will be continuously updated in the following months.
In the videos below, watch the Pet-Proto, which is a predecessor to DARPA’s Atlas robot, navigate by itself through various obstacles in its path.
Pet-Proto in Action
The teams selected for DARPA’s Robotic Challenge will compete to make a humanoid or non-humanoid robot that could navigate through similar obstacles. These robots will have their own decision-making capabilities, adaptability, and mobility.
You can find instructions for downloading and installing the DRC simulator here.
