Popular Mechanics offers preview of Singapore's TechX robot challenge
By Donald Melanson 
posted Sep 19th 2008 6:02PM
posted Sep 19th 2008 6:02PM
We haven't heard a whole lot about Singapore's DARPA-esque TechX robot challenge since it first kicked off early last year, but with the final round getting underway on Sunday, Popular Mechanics has now thankfully offered up a preview of what's in store. Among those set to compete is the so-called Uni-Seeker bot (pictured above) from Nanyang Technological University, which is a heavily modded incarnation of iRobot's ATRV Junior robot, and one of only six bots that managed to make it through all the qualifying rounds. Others include the considerably more intimidating AZROBOWAR Sharp Shooter, built completely from scratch, and a pair of robots built on iRobot's popular PackBot platform. From the looks of it, they'll each have their work cut out for them in the big event, with them required to start outside and navigate their way inside a building, then climb a flight of stairs, travel up an elevator, touch a few targets, and then exit the building again -- without any human intervention, and in less than an hour. That $700,000 prize should provide plenty of motivation, though.
I'm showing up in my Shaider armor.
It'd be cool to enter a mechanical/steam powered machine that uses magnets to fuck up all the robots.
I hope this is televised or something. Sounds interesting.
Judging by all these comments, I'd say VERY exciting.
gasp. Is that a female I see in the picture??
What heresy is this??!
(sarcasm)
Just for the info she aint the only girl involved!:)
That photographer has terrible aim.
I agree, absolutely terrible aim. what the hell was he thinking.
"Little higher.... keep going......"
I...am...very....disappointed.....
Dissapointed?