DARPA has challenge to map, navigate and search the underground world

DARPA has selected nine teams to compete in the Subterranean (SubT) Challenge to develop new approaches to rapidly map, navigate, and search underground environments.

This will better equip warfighters and first responders to explore human-made tunnel systems, urban underground, and natural cave networks that are too dangerous, dark, or deep to risk human lives.

DARPA has selected seven teams to compete in the funded track of the Systems competition:

Carnegie Mellon University
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia
iRobot Defense Holdings, Inc. dba Endeavor Robotics
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Pennsylvania

Teams in the Virtual competition will use simulation models and physics-based environments focusing on software-driven advances. The following organizations have received a contract to compete in the DARPA-funded track of the Virtual competition:

Michigan Technological University
Scientific Systems Company, Inc.

DARPA-funded and self-funded teams will vie for a $2 million prize in the Systems track, while the winner of the Virtual track will earn a $750,000 prize.

19 thoughts on “DARPA has challenge to map, navigate and search the underground world”

  1. Easy-peasy:1. Launch a 100 MT Steel penetrator on a (reusable) BFR on a ballistic trajectory towards the cave2. Guide penetrator to the cave3. Impact the cave collapse it4. Nothing to map submit empty piece of paper5. Miller timeWho do I contact for my money?

  2. It will probably be a drone with spinning lidar almost exactly like the cave mappers from the aliens prequel. You can watch it on youtube if you search “prometheus 3d scanner

  3. Why would DARPA care about spinning LIDAR (redundant btw) when they can have magic floaty orbs that will navigate muck and water? Also that movie sucked.

  4. Why would DARPA care about spinning LIDAR (redundant btw) when they can have magic floaty orbs that will navigate muck and water?Also that movie sucked.

  5. Why would DARPA care about spinning LIDAR (redundant btw) when they can have magic floaty orbs that will navigate muck and water? Also that movie sucked.

  6. Why would DARPA care about spinning LIDAR (redundant btw) when they can have magic floaty orbs that will navigate muck and water?Also that movie sucked.

  7. Easy-peasy: 1. Launch a 100 MT Steel penetrator on a (reusable) BFR on a ballistic trajectory towards the cave 2. Guide penetrator to the cave 3. Impact the cave, collapse it 4. Nothing to map, submit empty piece of paper 5. Miller time Who do I contact for my money?

  8. Easy-peasy:1. Launch a 100 MT Steel penetrator on a (reusable) BFR on a ballistic trajectory towards the cave2. Guide penetrator to the cave3. Impact the cave collapse it4. Nothing to map submit empty piece of paper5. Miller timeWho do I contact for my money?

  9. It will probably be a drone with spinning lidar almost exactly like the cave mappers from the aliens prequel. You can watch it on youtube if you search “prometheus 3d scanner”

  10. Easy-peasy:

    1. Launch a 100 MT Steel penetrator on a (reusable) BFR on a ballistic trajectory towards the cave
    2. Guide penetrator to the cave
    3. Impact the cave, collapse it
    4. Nothing to map, submit empty piece of paper
    5. Miller time

    Who do I contact for my money?

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