Researchers And Virginia Tech Students Prepare For DARPA Robotics Challenge

BLACKSBURG, VA - APRIL 09: Mechanical Engineering students and Team Valor members (L-R) John Seminatore, James Burton, Yoonchang Sung and Lakshitha Dantanarayana test software on the THOR robot while readying for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Robotics Challenge at the TREC (Terrestrial Robotics Engineering and Controls) Lab at Virginia Tech April 9, 2015 in Blacksburg, Virginia. Unlike many of the other 24 international teams in the competition, Team Valor has built most of the semi-autonomous ESCHER (Electromechanical Series Compliant Humanoid for Emergency Response) robot from the ground up over the last three months. The winner of the simulated disaster-response course will take home a $2 million prize next week in Pomona, California. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)