Going Underground

Sounds like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was just kicked out of mom’s basement.

In an inexplicable tweet, DARPA asked for help finding “commercially managed underground urban tunnels and facilities able to host research and experimentation.”

And nobody knows why.

Deep Cover

The facilities need to be “currently closed off from pedestrians” and ideally spans “several city blocks with complex layout.”

Sound creepy? Well, the accompanying images attached to the tweet confirmed our worst nightmares: DARPA is starting a cult or filming the sequel of “Blade: Trinity” — though we’re not entirely sure which.

Attention, city dwellers! We're interested in identifying university-owned or commercially managed underground urban tunnels & facilities able to host research & experimentation. https://t.co/tHZ1Tqy5nV It's short notice… We're asking for responses by Aug. 30 at 5:00 PM ET. pic.twitter.com/TSWO07bJam — DARPA (@DARPA) August 28, 2019

Short Notice

Making matters even more bizarre, DARPA needs its creepy underground lair by Friday, August 30 — that’s just two days from the time of writing, so better call your landlord. Or the Crypt Keeper.

Jokes aside, our guess is that DARPA’s search is related to its upcoming Subterranean Challenge, a contest that challenges teams from around the country to create robots that can map, navigate, and search complex underground environments, such as man-made tunnels, natural cave systems, and subterranean urban infrastructure.

An early stage of the competition was held August 15 to 22 inside mining tunnels under Pittsburgh — but it sounds like DARPA might not have the next location quite locked down.

READ MORE: DARPA is seeking giant abandoned tunnels for… reasons [Engadget]

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