TWO TRACKS<\/h2>
The teams can choose to compete in just one of two tracks — systems or virtual — or both.<\/p>
For the systems track, a team will create robots it can demonstrate on a physical course. Some of the spaces on this course may be barely large enough for a human to navigate, while others could be big enough for an all-terrain vehicle.<\/p>
For the virtual track, a team will need to create the software for subterranean robots and demonstrate it in a simulated environment boasting a wider range of scenarios than in the physical tests.<\/p>
DEEP UNDERGROUND<\/h2>
In any case, the teams must be ready to compete in the first of DARPA’s tests in the fall of 2019. After a final competition in the fall of 2021, DARPA will award the winner of the systems track $2 million and the winner of the virtual track $750,000. The competition’s judges will place a premium on autonomy, since communicating with robots while they’re deep underground can be difficult.<\/p>
Perhaps more important than earning the big payout, though, these teams of roboticists could help the military save lives if the U.S. ever finds itself in a situation like the daring rescue of children<\/a> from a Thai cave earlier this year. We’d like to see mutant turtles manage that<\/em>.<\/p> READ MORE<\/strong>: Modular Robots Being Developed to Navigate Tunnels and Caves<\/a> [The Engineer<\/em>]<\/p> More on cave rescues: Elon Musk Is Sending a Team of Engineers to Help Rescue Trapped Thai Boys<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p> See the rest here: UNDERSCAPE The U.S. military\u2019s research agency wants help navigating the subterranean world Continue reading ![](\"https:\/\/wp-assets.futurism.com\/2018\/10\/subterranean-challenge-darpa-1200x630.png\")
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The Military Wants Robots That Can Explore Tunnels Barely Large Enough to Fit a Human<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"