<p>Two NASA-built robots one of them ape-inspired have been selected to compete against other droids in a grueling challenge later this year.</p><p>The United States military has been envisioning a future in which robots could replace humans as responders in disaster zones. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, is trying to push that prospect closer to reality through its Robotics Challenge.</p><p>In December, DARPA will hold the first physical trials of the competition at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida, where teams will have to navigate their high-tech robots through a rigorous obstacle course. According to some of the task descriptions released by DARPA last week, the robots will drive around roadblocks, bound over rugged terrain, climb up ladders, break down walls and connect a fire hose to a valve. [Teams Prep for DARPA Robot Challenge (Video)]</p><p>Six custom robots are headed for the trials, including one built at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., called RoboSimian, which resembles a monkey and gets around on all fours. Another robot dubbed Valkyrie, made at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, has been tapped for the physical test as well, according to DARPA.</p><p><a href="http://www.space.com/21980-nasa-robots-darpa-robotics-challenge.html">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.golocalworcester.com/lifestyle/worcester-polytechnic-institute-acquires-2m-humanoid-robot/">Worcester Polytechnic Institute Acquires $ 2M Humanoid Robot</a> (GoLocal Worcester)</p><p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/16/robots-built-for-rescues/2523417/">Robot could go where human rescuers can&#039;t</a> (USA TODAY)</p><p><a href="http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/16/meet-darpas-62-disaster-response-robot/?hpt=te_r1">Meet DARPA&#039;s 6&#039;2&quot; disaster-response robot</a> (CNN (blog))</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=diibu_opJ2To3KMr8E-SmxP9L4J-M&ned=us">23 additional articles.</a></p>