DARPA - Broadcast Package

We created a broadcast package and playback system for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), for their Subterranean challenge live stream. This challenge features UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) from private groups around the world and puts these robots to the test. The robots have to navigate the course successfully while collecting objects and gaining points.

The broadcast package featured a plethora of visual overlay elements and animations. We started by creating the visual design of all elements, how the robot and team names would appear during the stream. Once the style and design were locked in, the elements were then procedurally re-created in TouchDesigner. Around this, an entire playback system was developed, allowing us to run our program during the event while updating graphics in real-time.

During the competition, we got a data stream from DARPA's competing UGVs with data such as their location, progress through the course, objects found, and more. From this live data, we created a map with visual indicators so viewers of the live stream could keep tabs on the robots they were rooting for. Recording of the broadcast can be found here.

Credits:

Client: DARPA

Agency: Next/Now

Creative Director: David Najarian, Gareth Fewel

Art Director: Mitch Stomner

Producer: Alexander Waldman

Design & Animation: Andrea Abtahi, Luke Hildreth, Jack Steadson, Billy Woods, Sam Wu

Developers: Luke Hildreth, Jake Rodelius