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The finalists in the DARPA Robotics Challenge faced off this weekend in a series of eight tasks meant to tease out which machines had the right stuff to help humans respond to natural and man-made disasters. Here's a look at how the robots, and their human controllers, fared in the competition's tasks that had to be completed within an hour: drive a utility vehicle, exit the vehicle, open a door, drill a hole in a wall, complete a surprise task, walk over a pile of rubble or clear a path through debris, and walk up a short flight of stairs. (Images credit: Tanya Lewis for Live Science)
Opening the competition
A military honor guard stands at attention during the opening ceremony of the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals June 5 and 6 in Pomona, California.
The set of a simulated disaster at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, showing some of the tasks the robots must complete, such as opening a door, turning a valve and walking over rubble.
A challenge to conquer
The set of a simulated disaster at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, showing some of the tasks the robots must complete, such as opening a door, turning a valve and walking over rubble.
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Obstacles to overcome
The set of a simulated disaster at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, showing some of the tasks the robots must complete, such as opening a door, turning a valve and walking over rubble.
Traversing the course
The set of a simulated disaster at the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals, showing some of the tasks the robots must complete, such as opening a door, turning a valve and walking over rubble.
Watching the challenges
The early-morning crowd gathered to watch the opening ceremony of the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals in Pomona, California.
Welcoming the crowd
DARPA officials say a few words at the opening ceremony of the DARPA Robotics Challenge Finals June 5 and 6 in Pomona, California.
Japan's Team Aero preps for the challange
The robot from Japan's Team Aero makes its first attempt at the course.
Team Aero on approach
The robot from Japan's Team Aero makes its first attempt at the course.
Team Aero progress
The robot from Japan's Team Aero makes its first attempt at the course.
HKU faces the challenge
Hong Kong University's Team HKU takes a few wobbly steps.
Team Valor up for a shot
Virginia Tech's Team Valor steps out onto the course.
Carnegie Mellon takes its spot
A snakelike robot from Carnegie Mellon University wriggles around at the DRC Expo.
Robotics companies opt in to the challenge
Soft robots made by Clearpath Robotics make an appearance at the DRC Expo.
Tanya was a staff writer for Live Science from 2013 to 2015, covering a wide array of topics, ranging from neuroscience to robotics to strange/cute animals. She received a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering from Brown University. She has previously written for Science News, Wired, The Santa Cruz Sentinel, the radio show Big Picture Science and other places. Tanya has lived on a tropical island, witnessed volcanic eruptions and flown in zero gravity (without losing her lunch!). To find out what her latest project is, you can visit her website.
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