In December of this year DARPA is holding its Robotics Challenge, a proving ground for robots developed for humanitarian disaster relief and “related operations”. Entries of all shapes and sizes are expected to join the competition but a joint effort between NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Stanford might prove to be the most intriguing design.
Named the RoboSimian, the robot JPL robot’s design was inspired by our evolutionary kin and features “four general purpose limbs… capable of both mobility and manipulation, to achieve passively stable stances; create multi-point anchored connections [for] ladders, railings, and stair treads; and brace itself during forceful manipulation operations.”
In the end JPL and Stanford believe that their robot will perform well in the DARPA competition because it’s built to use “deliberate and stable operations to complete challenging tasks”, eschewing the tentative, “reaction-based” approach that many robots employ.
Regardless of how it fairs in the competition I love the JPL/Stanford design. Robotic monkeys are just cool.
Images Courtesy of JPL