The Japanese team won the DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials with its two-legged robot.
SCHAFT Inc. scored the most points after the two-day competition, besting teams from all over the world. IHMC Robotics from Florida has the second place while the third place went to Carnegie Melon University. IHMC Robot's entry was a humanoid robot while Carnegie's entry was the Team Tartan Rescue.
The robotics challenge, attracting teams from all parts of the world, was held December 20-21 at the Homestead Miami Speedway. Seventeen teams participated in the event, there could have been more but one team from China had travel issues which prevented them from making their way to Florida.
The robots were given scores across categories which evaluated their ability in performing physical tasks. The tasks included; traversing an uneven terrain, removing debris from a doorway, driving a vehicle through a course, retrieving and connecting a hose, climbing an industrial ladder, opening three types of doors, closing a series of valves to demonstrate dexterity, and using tools to cut through a drywall.
The champion, Team SCHAFT's robot called S-One gained a total score of 127 points. S-One is a two-legged robot who weighs 209 pounds and he showed excellent in most tasks, including dexterity and mobility.
Meanwhile, Team IHMC Robotics impressed the crowd during the second day of the team, bridging the gap between them and S-One. The IHMC Robotics's entry successfully navigated through three different types of doorways, causing the crowd to burst into cheers.
Team Tartan Rescue of the Carnegie Melon University and National Robotics Engineering Center's entry is a 400-pound robot called CHIMP. CHIMP resembles a human being but he moves about with rubberized tracks like a tank to enable him more stability when on a rough terrain.
