DARPA's Robotics Challenge to create a humanoid robot capable of completing search and rescue missions has a winner.
This is SCHAFT, developed by a Japanese team and owned by Google. And while SCHAFT came out with the highest numbers by far — the losers were the real surprise. (Via YouTube / SCHAFT inc )
Despite the hype, NASA’s Valkyrie superhero robot got zero points. (Via YouTube / IEEE Spectrum)
Right next to the animalistic six-legged Chiron. (Via DARPA)
Speaking of animals — Boston Dynamics' WildCat Robot made an appearance but didn't compete. Yikes — how'd you like that one crawling around in your dreams?
The competition included eight tasks like moving debris, climbing a ladder and turning off valves — that task was the inspiration for finding a response robot. (Via DARPA)
DARPA’s program manager told the BBC a search and rescue robot was needed in 2011 during the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown in Japan.
"What we realised was ... these robots couldn't do anything other than observe. What they needed was a robot to go into that reactor building and shut off the valves."
The competition finals will be in 2014 and teams will compete for $2 million in DARPA funding.
