TARDEC's Robotics Rodeo

Donna Cusano

Not a summer sci-fi movie, but a US Department of Defense nine-day demonstration of robotics staged by TARDEC (US Army’s Tank Automotive Research Center) and JIEDDO (the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization). The emphasis was on battlefield situations (providing supplies, digging hasty fighting positions for a squad, and autonomously search and detect the presence of opposing forces), but the involvement of private industry and academia points to eventual civilian (and assistive tech) use for robotics. Robotics Rodeo! (Armed with Science) Also see this later article on developing longer lasting battery power for robots, with DARPA’s goal of a 2000% increase in power transmission and performance; proposals are currently being sought.