Important Innovations

Archaeology Find: Humans in N.A 17K Yrs Before Believed Source:  Mexico Cave Archaeologists Excavated  Big Archaeology Find An incredibly fascinating archaeology discovery.  In a cave in Mexico, archaeologists have found human made stone tools dating back at least 30,000 years.  The scientists found the tools in the massive Chiquihuite Cave in northwestern Mexico.  Two, separate, new archaeological studies date humans living on the North American continent at least 30,000 years ago.  The lead researcher and director of the excavation in the Chiquihuite Cave is Ciprian Ardelean, an archaeologist at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas.   Last Glacial Maximum The discovery means humans were here before the Last Glacial Maximum when ice covered most of the northern US and Canada.  The findings prove that humans were in North America much earlier than previously thought.  In fact, at least 17,000 years earlier than believed. ...

3D Imaging of Flooded Caves New Technology from Czech Company Geo-CZ, a Czech company, has just announced a new technology to 3D Map the space inside flooded, dangerous caves.  It's an important alternative to divers doing numerous missions to inspect the narrow corridors and crevices inside flooded caves.  For a great news blog on this new application of 3D mapping and imaging, go to Important Innovations Collection: Exploring Flooded Caves Without Diving In : 3D Mapping Source: Diver in flooded cave stock image New Technology from Czechoslovakia  Czech speleologists have developed a new tec...

The Robot Olympics Source:  DARPA DARPA's Subterranean Robotic Challenge Gets Underway The Pentagon's DARPA believes the next robotic challenge is for robots to autonomously operate in dangerous underground areas such as cave networks, tunnel systems and urban undergrounds.  Missions include investigatory work and search and rescue.  The purpose is to keep humans out of harms way. DARPA will kick off its Subterranean Robotic Challenge this weekend.  Some of the world's leading roboticists and their technology are competing in the Challenge which continues through August 2021.  For a great news blog on this go to,  Important Innovations Collection: SubT - Next Challenge for Robots : DARPA's Subterranean Robotic Challenge Source:  DARPA The Robot Olympics Are About to Begin The US Defense Department's Adva...

Pentagon's DARPA on a Mission Stock Image Subterranean Environment For First Responders and Soldiers The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA, is seeking new commercial technologies to map in 3D underground environments.  The environments include caves, manmade tunnels and other underground structures like subways.  There is a dual need:  for first responders and soldiers. 3D Mapping and Surveying DARPA wants both 3D mapping and surveying.  They just put out a request for information.  There are a number of conditions DARPA wants to overcome in these environments to enable a more safe and rapid response from rescue teams and combat soldiers.  The problems include GPS not working, narrow passages, darkness and dangerous, limited access. Top of the Line Available Commercial Technology DARPA wants highly accurate geolocation data on targeted areas and high resolution georeferenced surveys.  They are particularly ...

DARPA's Subterranean Robotic Olympics Robotic Race to Win DARPA, the US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency, gathered leading roboticists in a Kentucky cave recently and issued its most daring challenge yet.  Design robots to navigate some of the most unforgiving environments - a grueling course of tunnels and caves. Triathlon DARPA has split the competition into 3 fields.  Tunnel environments with a lot of passageways.  Caves with crags, slopes and tight squeezes.  And, an urban, bunker like environment with lots of stairs.  The winning robot will be the fastest at overcoming all 3 environments. Prestigious Competing Teams NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, Caltech and Carnegie Mellon are among the competitors.  The race starts in August 2019.  The key to winning is developing a robot flexible enough to overcome cave, tunnel and urban environments.  Some uses of this emerging robotic tech:  search and rescue and ur...

Real-time Mapping For Unban Infrastructure Like Subway Systems, Tunnels, Caves It's a DARPA technology challenge.  The Pentagon's Advanced Research Projects Agency is challenging teams to build tech systems that rapidly chart urban infrastructure like subway systems, also caves and tunnels.   It's called the Subterranean Challenge.  DARPA wants tech to navigate underground areas while humans stay on the surface.  They want the systems to rapidly map and search often dangerous underground areas. For the Military, First Responders This tech is primarily to be developed for the military and first responders in subterranean conditions.  Often they face a time sensitive situation, difficult technical challenges, dynamic terrain, bad communications and an expansive area of operation. These systems could also be used for infrastructure inspection, mining, construction and archeology. 3 Year Challenge This is a 3 year challenge for technolo...