August 25 -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) unveiled its Autonomous Robotic Manipulation program at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Conference in Denver this week. The goal of this 4-year, multi-track program is to develop software and hardware that allows an operator to control a robot that is able to autonomously manipulate, grasp and perform complicated tasks, given only high-level direction. Over the course of the program in the Software Track, funded performers will develop algorithms that enable the DARPA robot to execute these numerous tasks. DARPA is also making an identical robot available for public use. This will allow anyone the opportunity to write software, test it in simulation, upload it to the actual system, and then watch, in real-time via the internet, as the DARPA robot executes the user's software. Teams involved in this Outreach Track will be able to compete and collaborate with other teams from around the world. (DARPA photo)

DARPA Industry Summit

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