The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued an open call to the robotics industry soliciting expert proposals to create more power-efficient robots. The agency aims to maximize robotic technology potential and improve the power efficiency of current robots by 2,000 percent. Robots are highly important tools in defense missions such as heavy transportation across rocky terrain or disabling roadside bombs, the agency said. However, with current technology, such robots are only able to work for about 10 to 20 minutes, significantly limiting their usability.
Good idea, robots need to conserve energy. But in the meantime, until they become more energy efficient, just change the design so they can be automatically "recharged" through the use of battery exchange stations. The robot can come to the station when power is getting low, automatically dock, exchange batteries, and take off again. The exchange station could be mobile field deployed.
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DARPA Wants to Give Robots More Staying Power
Posted by: Rachelle Dragani July 9, 2012 07:00 AMThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has issued an open call to the robotics industry soliciting expert proposals to create more power-efficient robots. The agency aims to maximize robotic technology potential and improve the power efficiency of current robots by 2,000 percent. Robots are highly important tools in defense missions such as heavy transportation across rocky terrain or disabling roadside bombs, the agency said. However, with current technology, such robots are only able to work for about 10 to 20 minutes, significantly limiting their usability.