What is DARPA Robotics Challenge?

The DARPA Robotics Challenge (DRC) is a prize competition funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Held from 2012 to 2014, it aims to develop semi-autonomous ground robots that can do "complex tasks in dangerous, degraded, human-engineered environments." The DRC was conceived of and is being managed by Dr. Gill Pratt, in DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO). The DRC follows the DARPA Grand Challenge and DARPA Urban Challenge. It began in October 2012; it is to run for about 27 months with three competitions, a Virtual Robotics Challenge (VRC) that took place in June 2013 and two live hardware challenges, the DRC Trials in December 2013, and the DRC Finals in December 2014.
Besides spurring development of semi-autonomous robots, the DRC also seeks to make robotic software and systems development more accessible beyond the end of the program. To that end, the DRC has funded the development of the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) GAZEBO simulator and the construction of six Boston Dynamics ATLAS robots that are being given to the teams that performed best in the VRC

Challenge details of 2013:-

The Robotics Challenge will focus on disaster or emergency-response scenarios. Although the requirements may change as the contest progresses, the initial task requirements for robot entries is:

1. Drive a utility vehicle at the site.

2. Travel dismounted across rubble.

3. Remove debris blocking an entryway.

4. Open a door and enter a building.

5. Climb an industrial ladder and traverse an industrial walkway.

6. Use a tool to break through a concrete panel.

7. Locate and close a valve near a leaking pipe.

8. Connect a fire hose to a standpipe and turn on a valve.

The competition has been broken into multiple tracks. Tracks A and B receive DARPA funding, while Tracks C and D will receive no DARPA funding initially. Tracks B and C will go through the Virtual Robotics Challenge (VRC), after which successful teams may receive funding for subsequent stages. Applications for tracks A and B closed in May 2012. The track C application window closed on 18 December 2012, though late applications were still being considered as of January 2013, though participants may still download the DRC Simulator, an open source application created by the Open Source Robotics Foundation. Track D is open for registration through October 2013.