Applied Robotics: How Robots Could Change Life - DARPA Robotics Challenge For Disaster Aid

The recent Hurricane Sandy debacle has brought the natural disaster issue back to the forefront, and in light of its devastating wake, it's worth taking a look into the future to see how such events might be dealt with. Enter DARPA's Robotics Challenge (DRC), in which DARPA is calling on creative minds to help design robots that will be able to respond to the needs of victims and aid in relief efforts following the wake of disasters such as Sandy. 

The main goal of DRC is the creation of a robot that doesn't have to be monitored and watched over by a human. Instead, these robots should be able to respond to stimuli and think progressively in order to deliver humanitarian aid. 

One of the main roadblocks is the lack of mobility robots have compared to humans. Rubble, doors, stairs - these all pose problems and overcoming them at the moment is simply inefficient. By focusing on areas like stability, a complex response software, and more human-like features (such as opposable thumbs), DRC hopes to foster the production of a robot that can respond to any disaster the way humans do: with intuition and mobility. 

The DRC mission statement reads:

"The DARPA Robotics Challenge program will help directly meet these needs by developing robotic technology for disaster response operations. This technology will improve the performance of robots that operate in the rough terrain and austere conditions characteristic of disasters, and use vehicles and tools commonly available in populated areas. This technology will also work in ways easily understood by subject matter experts untrained in the operation of robots, and be governed by intuitive controls that require little training."

The Robotics Challenge currently lists eight robots currently being developed that will allow for such an autonomous robotic response team. They include the DRC Robot from Boston Dynamics, based off the Atlas Humanoid Robot, which contains 7 degrees of freedom in each arm, and 6 degrees in each leg. With a laser radar and stereo vision, the DRC Robot could be digging people out of rubble in the future.

Other robots listed are the 'RoboSimian,' 'Hubo,' 'Chimp,' 'R2,' 'Guardian,' 'Schaft,' and 'Thor.' All robots are being developed with an emphasis on autonomous software and increased mobility/stability. 

It's quite easy to see how useful such a team of robots could end up being. Not only will they bring additional manpower to the table, but they could streamline the amount of equipment needed in the aftermath of a disaster. Instead of having to wait for the proper equipment to lift and move heavy rubble, a team of these robots could theoretically just do it themselves with their superhuman strength, cutting down on time and increasing the chances that victims survive. They would also be able to withstand hostile environments, such as a radioactive-ridden atmosphere following disasters such as Fukushima. With onboard power supplies and communications systems, these robots might even be able to serve electrical and communication needs after power lines and cell towers have been knocked out. 

With robots doing the legwork, humans can be left to tasks such as coordinating supplies and making sure that FEMA doesn't come under fire for a subpar response. This would also free up minds to immediately start thinking forward, on how to avert such a disastrous scenario in the future (proactive thinking is something the robots won't be able to do - at least for a long time). 

DARPA will be hosting the Virtual Robotics Challenge (VRC) in June 2013. Before the implementation of the actual robotics, VRC hopes to focus the issues of robot perception, manipulation, and locomotion. Teams will be forced to prove that their interface is the most efficient manner of controlling one of these disaster response robots. 

These robots won't be putting FEMA out of commission anytime soon, but the technologies developed through DRC could one day find its way into everyday consumers' lives. Think of a robotic maid, that can maneuver around obstacles in ways the Roomba only dreams of. Now that sounds cozy. 

If you wish to participate in DARPA's competition, check out the online FAQ to see if you're eligible. 

Check back tomorrow for another installment of our Applied Robotics series titled: "Applied Robotics: How Robots Could Change Life - A Robotic Swiss Army Knife."

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