These Drexel robots will compete in a federal robotics challenge in Dec. [VIDEO]

The HUBO robots have entered training mode.

This December, Drexel’s robots will compete in a head-to-head trial in Florida against five other teams as part of an international competition run by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that challenges participants to program a robot to respond to a radioactive disaster. Drexel is the lead university on the team, composed of nine other universities

The Drexel team created a lifelike set, “complete with radiation and zombie warnings,” to train the robots, Drexel spokesman Britt Faulstick said.

If you want to see the robots in the test environment, email efaletto AT coe.drexel.edu or stop by the Drexel Armory between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday until the end of August. 

Additionally, new versions of HUBO arrived from Korea earlier this summer. The new versions include “stronger joints, adding a dozen more degrees of freedom in arms/legs, quadruped walking ability,” Faulstick said.

Watch HUBO turn a valve below.

Read more on Drexel’s blog here.