Article Posted on : - Jul 29, 2010

Robots displayed by 'Team Michigan', which is one of six challengers in the MAGIC 2010 robotics challenge. Photo: US Army.

MICHIGAN (BNS): The US and Australian departments of defence have selected teams from the United States, Turkey, Japan and Australia to compete for the Multi Autonomous Ground-Robotic International Challenge, or MAGIC.

The competition is slated for the groundbreaking robotics research in critical new arenas, which will address operational challenges and save soldiers’ lives. The competition will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, form November 8th to 13th, 2010.

The Australia Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command have jointly developed the concept of MAGIC for the development of next generation, fully-autonomous ground robots.

The competition aims to develop teams of robots which can operate autonomously on the battlefield in dangerous situations, instead of soldiers.

“We are excited to work with the Australian government on this international collaboration,” Dr. Grace Bochenek, U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center director, said in a US Army official release.

“MAGIC 2010 will go a long way to help foster the growth of the next generation of scientists and engineers both in the United States and abroad,” he added.

The focus of MAGIC is to bring advance technology for war-fighters.