DARPA Search For Better Robots Continues

Wall Street Journal: The Robots Are Coming

Automatons from around the globe to compete in Darpa Robotics Challenge’s simulated disaster.

Do robots need passports? The Pentagon’s research arm will host two-legged automatons from five nations, including China, alongside homegrown offerings in a contest to test their capabilities helping out in a simulated disaster.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Darpa, on Thursday unveiled the 25 teams that will face off in June for a $2 million top prize, racing—very slowly—against the clock to perform tasks including driving a car, climbing a ladder and turning off a valve.

The Darpa Robotics Challenge is the latest in a series of contests designed to stimulate interest from companies and academia in developing cutting-edge technology, with previous events devoted to driverless vehicles and self-healing computers that can defend themselves against cyberattacks.

WNU Editor: Even China has decided to participate in this competition .... I guess this is one way for them to look at what the competition is doing.

A Look At 9 Revolutionary Projects That DARPA Is Funding

Geek: 9 revolutionary projects the military is funding

DARPA has something of a reputation for funding out-there projects, but it also has a reputation for achieving its goals. The military actually spreads the moonshot research around a bit, and not all of it ends up concentrated in the Advance Research Projects agencies. From the Air Force to the US information warriors, military engineers are undeniably the most audacious engineers of all.

WNU Editor: I am still waiting for my jet-pack.

The Pentagon Wants A Flying Aircraft Carrier

Darpa has invited people to submit ideas for future 'aircraft carriers in the sky.' The hopes is that these flying fortresses will someday carry, launch and recover multiple swarms of potentially deadly drones anywhere in the world. Artist's impression pictured

Could The Avengers' Helicarrier Become A Reality? US Military Is Developing A Flying Aircraft Carrier To Launch Swarms Of Drones -- Daily Mail

* Darpa has invited people to submit ideas for a 'flying aircraft carrier'
* The concept resembles Helicarrier used in the 2012 film, The Avengers
* It could overcome current limits in speed, range and endurance of drones
* Project may use a plane like the B-1B Lancer bomber or C-130 Hercules

Captain America, the Hulk and Iron Man relied on the incredible 'Helicarrier' to launch their planes from the air in the 2012 The Avengers film.

And now, the US military is taking a leaf out of Marvel's comic after it invited people to submit ideas for future 'aircraft carriers in the sky.'

The hope is that these flying fortresses will someday carry, launch and recover multiple swarms of drones anywhere in the world.

Read more ....

More News On The Pentagon Wanting A Flying Aircraft Carrier

Wanted: Ideas for Transforming Planes into “Aircraft Carriers in the Sky” -- DARPA
Pentagon wants ideas for flying aircraft carrier -- CNN
DARPA eyes converting large aircraft into drone carriers -- RT
Pentagon seeks aircraft-based drones for future missions -- Military Times
Call The Avengers: The Pentagon wants to make helicarriers -- Gizmodo

From Stealth Fighters To Siri, DARPA's Projects Aim To Transform Next Generation (Video)

Future Soldiers Will Be Wearing Wearable Robots

An Entire Platoon Wearing Wearable Robots -- CBS

The military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) lab creates stunning inventions that could help our service members stay one step ahead when answering the call of duty.

Those creative and skillful minds gave "CBS This Morning" a sneak peek at technology you may have thought only existed in your dreams, reports CBS News correspondent Chip Reid.

When Jason Kerestes goes for a run, he gets a boost from a strange contraption he wears on his back. He calls it "Airlegs."

"It basically makes you feel like you have bigger muscles," Kerestes said.

Read more ....

My Comment:  The focus is on the military .... but this will have an even bigger impact in the civilian sector.