The American Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently announced that it’s challenging tech-geeks to invent a new robot to help respond during emergencies. To sweeten the deal, the designer of the winning robot will receive a whopping $2 million cash prize.
This might sound like the premise of a sci-fi movie staring Will Smith, but recent disasters (such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan last year) have indicated there is a need for responders who can operate in conditions too extreme for humans.
The Robotics Challenge will launch in October. In particular, DARPA is looking for robots with human attributes (i.e. dexterous arms and legs) which can function in human environments (i.e. climb stairs and ladders). The robots also need to be simple and straightforward enough that non-robotics experts can operate them.
You can learn more about the competition here.
Meanwhile, we might not have robots but we think our volunteers are super-human! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer to help us respond to emergencies in Canada, visit our website or call your local Red Cross office.