Virtual University Rover Challenge 2021 Gets Teams Roving

Post date: Jun 09, 2021 3:2:1 AM

Although the COVID-19 global health pandemic forced the cancellation of the URC2021 Finals, many teams and their rovers were still anxious to test their capabilities and showcase their hard work. The URC staff developed a special event just for this situation: the Virtual University Rover Challenge 2021.

The Virtual University Rover Challenge 2021 offered teams the opportunity to build courses on their own campuses, and compete remotely with judges and fans tuning in online from around the world. Three URC missions were modified for this format: the Equipment Servicing Mission, Autonomous Navigation Mission, and Extreme Retrieval and Delivery Mission. 13 teams from 5 countries were able to compete June 3-6, with all sessions live streamed (and now archived!) via the URC YouTube Channel.

Each team's competition experience was unique - operating on test hardware that they built, and from their own campuses. Judges were fortunate enough to go on a virtual world tour, with the opportunity to see each team operating in their home environments. While the virtual event was no replacement for the URC Finals, this was a tremendous opportunity to see passionate students and their rovers hard at work again!

Equipment Servicing Mission

The Equipment Servicing Mission required teams to perform a series of dexterous manipulation tasks, operating equipment that is typically designed for a human. This includes opening a drawer, placing a toolbox in that drawer, and closing it; typing a command on a keyboard; and turning a screw to tighten it. MIST Mongol Barota from the Military Institute of Science & Technology in Bangladesh achieved the only perfect score of this mission.

Autonomous Navigation Mission

For the Autonomous Navigation Mission rovers are required to navigate to a series of visual markers, without human operator control. This complex mission has traditionally been one of the hardest for teams, requiring the development of autonomy software that fuses multiple sensor inputs. For the virtual version, teams provided the coordinates of an open field on their campus; judges would send detailed instructions to an independent "post placer" responsible for setting up the course. Rover operators would receive a minimal set of approximate coordinates to help guide the rover. While teams did struggle in this mission, BRACU Mongol-Tori from BRAC University in Bangladesh was able to successfully reach an impressive 3 gates.

Extreme Retrieval and Delivery Mission

The Extreme Retrieval and Delivery Mission typically sends rovers racing around the extreme terrain of the Mars Desert Research Station, searching for supplies to deliver to astronauts. While teams couldn't replicate this extreme terrain on their local campuses, judges chose a series of simplified tasks meant to stress rovers' ability to perform basic operations that could support an astronaut. This included carrying and accurately delivery both large and small packages; ascending a steep incline; and surviving a staggering 1 meter vertical descent. Multiple teams were able to complete 5 of the 6 tasks, but only Husky Robotics from the University of Washington in the United States was able to survive the harrowing descent, being rewarded with the only perfect score of this mission.

Looking Ahead

The URC judges and staff are hopeful that 2022 will see a return of the URC Finals at the Mars Desert Research Station, the greatest rover playground on the planet! Until then, the judges and staff hope that everybody stays safe and healthy!