The Subterranean Challenge, organised by the US government research agency Darpa and spans a three-year-period, aims to push the boundaries of autonomous robotic technology.

The competition tasked scientists with remotely running the robots in an underground environment simulating real-world scenario where they were ordered to locate models representing lost or injured humans, backpacks, or phones, as well as variable conditions such as pockets of gas.

Points were awarded for correct identification and location of items, mapping the terrain, and maintaining autonomy and communications throughout.

The competition concluded inside the Louisville Mega Cavern in Louisville in Kentucky and the results were announced in the US overnight.

CSIRO spin-out robotics company Emesent, consisting of members from CSIRO’s Data61, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, competed under the name CSIRO’s Data61, and won the preliminary round before being awarded second in the final circuit.

CSIRO Data61 leader and robotics group leader Dr Navinda Kottege comments on their win: “This is an amazing result. We are the first Australian team to place in the top two at a DARPA robotics challenge.”

“This cements CSIRO’s place as a world leader in robotics and puts Australia firmly on the map in this increasingly important area of science,” he adds.

He thanked team partners Emesent and Georgia Institute of Technology for their research, development, and contribution.

The US$1 million (A$1.3 million) prize money will be reinvested into team CSIRO’s Data61's research and development of Australian technology.

“The team will now focus on translating the technology and capabilities developed from this project to solve some of Australia’s greatest challenges,” Kottege says.

Emesent CTO and co-founder Dr Farid Kendoul congratulated all the winners of the Darpa Subterranean Challenge. “I proud of team CSIRO's Data61 placing second, and the contributions that Emesent made over the three years to advance the team's state-of-the-art robotics and showcase the capabilities of Australian companies on a global stage.”

“The Georgia Tech Mobile Robot lab is thrilled to have been team members with CSIRO and Emesent,” Georgia Institute of Technology Mobile Robot Laboratory director professor Ronald Arkin concludes. “Our years of hard work together paid great dividends both intellectually and in camaraderie, and it is truly exciting to see the final outcome!”