URC2024 Delivery Mission Course

Note that these are the rules for URC2024, and do not apply to any other year.

Introduction

Your rover is part of an EVA team on Mars.  You are tasked with assisting two astronauts as they conduct a series of geologic and maintenance tasks on the surface.

You begin your task by leaving the station (1), following a marked route. Along the way, you will search for a rock specimen that matches the description provided by judges, and deliver it to the Sample Cache (2).

You will support Astronaut #1 by collecting a new rock, located in the Rock Box, and delivering it to the Science Box (3), as well as finding a Designated Object (as specified by judges) and delivering it to the Science Box (4).

Once you have been cleared for Stage 2, your mission shifts from the scientific work to being a general field assistant for Astronaut #2. You are tasked with traveling to the Wreckage Area that includes pieces from a previously failed experiment. Your rover will pick up multiple pieces of wreckage and deliver to Astronaut #2 (5).  You also have the option to pick up an additional item located in a remote canyon for delivery to Astronaut #2 (6a), or to use a a drone to read the number on a tag up on the ridge (6b).

Note: This narrative is provided as an introduction only. The official course details, rules, and scoring metrics are provided in the following images.

New or Modified URC2024 Delivery Mission (DM) Course Rules & Advice

• A working GNSS is essential for the Delivery Mission.

• In Task 2 the rover may attempt to pick up only one specimen. It is not permitted to pick up more than one specimen.

• Task 2 requires some geological expertise. It is recommended that teams have a geological specialist on their teams. However, all geological items to be identified are in a readily found location. The type of specimen to be identified will be provided by judges during setup. Identification will be by visual means only, using rover cameras. No chemical or other non-visual tests are required or permitted. 

• Task 3 requires carrying a rock from one location to another. 

• Use of a drone is optional. A drone can be used for visual observation or search, as a datalink, or carrying an object, as desired. A drone can be used at any point, but is most useful in Stage 2. If an object is picked up by the drone, the object weight does not count towards total drone weight limit. A drone can land or takeoff as many times as desired, as long as they do so safely. 

• Tasks 5 and 6a requires the rover to move unusually shaped items at or below 5kg, which might not have carrying points (e.g., no handle). They will be able to be gripped and picked up with a typical rover arm.  

• Task 6a will require the rover to be out of line of sight of the ground station and risks a loss of communications to the team operating the rover. 

• For Tasks 4, 5, and 6a the rover will need to hunt for items over a large area. All search items are designed to be readily distinguishable from natural materials and landscape features using typical rover cameras. However, teams will be greatly aided by understanding the distinction between imaging and a video feed with compression.

• All supplied GNSS coordinates are as accurate as possible (no offset or error is intended).