U. S. defense research organization DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is seeking help to improve the power efficiency of existing bipedal robots by 2,000 per cent.

The DARPA has called for scientific and engineering specialist companies and individuals to work on improving the existing robots’ battery performance and movement efficiencies.

The defense research organization will incorporate the effort, called Maximum Mobility & Manipulation (M3), into its annual DARPA Robotics Challenge, with the aim of showcasing M3-developed tech at the 2014 DARPA Robotics Challenge.

Gill Pratt, program manager at DARPA, said that exploring manifold aspects of robot design, capabilities, control & production would allow them to meet apply core robot technologies across diverse mission areas.

Speaking on the topic, Pratt added, “Success in the M3 Actuation effort would benefit not just robotics programs, but all engineered, actuated systems, including advanced prosthetic limbs.”

The agency’s M3 Actuation Program has two parts - Track 1 and Track 2. While Track 1 will focus on making robots more efficient in terms of battery power and movements; Track 2 will concentrate on improving the robotic technologies beyond the span of Track 1.

DARPA has offered $2.5 million and $500,000 per project per phase for winning proposals in Track 1 and Track 2, respectively.