On the first day of competition in the DARPA Robotics Challenge IHMC completed seven of the eight tasks for a total of seven points in 56 minutes and four seconds. They finished the day in seventh place. At the end of day two IHMC placed second out of 24 competitors from all over the world. Three teams total successfully completed all eight tasks and team KAISTof South Korea did it in the fastest time: 44 minutes. IHMC completed all eight tasks in 50 minutes.
What were the tasks?
- Driving an all-terrain vehicle
- Exiting the vehicle unassisted
- Opening and entering a door
- Opening/Closing a valve
- Using a drill to cut out a hole in drywall and push the drywall in to create a space
- A "surprise" task: day 1 was flipping a switch, day 2 was unpluggin and plugging back in a simulated electrical plug
- Clearing or navigating a field of debris
- Climbing stairs
By placing second IHMC has won $1 million from DARPA. The next phase of this challenge, which was initiated after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, will be facilitated by the Japanese government.
Story will be updated as more information is available.