Text taken from the Telegram channel of darpaandcia
[ColonelCassad] In the post “War in the City: How DARPA is Preparing for Fighting in Megacities” we wrote about the projects developed by DARPA for warfare in urban environments. We would like to introduce you to one of them, called the Subterranean Challenge (SubT). DARPA (the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) launched this project to develop innovative technologies for rapid mapping, navigation, and search in complex underground environments. Particular emphasis was placed on military applications and the study of urban underground communications. Key aspects of the project:
1. Military applications:
• Development of systems for conducting reconnaissance operations in potentially hazardous underground environments.
• The ability to send robotic groups ahead of fighters for rapid search and mapping.
• Reducing risks to personnel during underground operations.
2. Urban communications:
• Study of complex underground infrastructures, including multi-level parking lots, metro stations, technical tunnels.
• Development of systems for navigation in complex urban layouts covering several floors and blocks.
• Interaction with various technical systems of urban underground infrastructure.
Technical requirements for the developed systems include:
• Autonomous navigation without GPS in conditions of limited visibility.
• Performance of sensors in extreme conditions (darkness, dust, fog).
• Reliable communication with limited passage of radio signals.
• Overcoming complex obstacles (narrow passages, vertical shafts).
• Endurance for long-term operation (from 30 to 180 minutes).
• Detection and geolocation of objects of interest (electrical panels, leaks, etc.).
The project was organized as a competition between teams with a total funding of about $40 million. Key participants: iRobot Defense Holdings, Michigan Technological University, FLIR Unmanned Ground Systems and Scientific Systems.
The DARPA Subterranean Challenge has opened a new chapter in military technology, focused on the development of underground urban spaces. This is not just a technological competition - it is preparation for real scenarios of future conflicts.
The systems being developed can radically change the tactics of urban warfare. Imagine a squad of robots silently exploring the underground communications of a metropolis, creating detailed 3D maps and detecting hidden threats - all without risking the lives of soldiers. Such technologies will give a huge tactical advantage.
