URC2026 Delivery Mission Course

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.

Note:  In Stage 1 teams operating from the Hab and Dome will have separate courses, with a visible divider. Do not cross the dividing line into the other team’s course.

2026 Delivery Mission (DM) Course Rules

a) Only the currently competing team(s) are allowed on the DM course.
b) Teams may not inspect the course ahead of their competition time.
c) The tasks in each stage can be conducted in any order.  Teams may go back to a previous task as desired. There may be multiple ways to do a task – teams are free to approach the tasks in a variety of ways, or to combine tasks.  Once a team has been cleared to Stage 2 they can attempt, or re-attempt, the tasks in Stage 1 or Stage 2 in any order.
d) Teams have 35 minutes for Stage 1. If they are cleared to Stage 2, they will receive an additional 20 minutes.
e) A drone can be used to scout any part of the course (Stage 1 or Stage 2) at any time.
f) Course times and GNSS coordinates of pertinent locations will be given prior to starting the DM course.

Rules for awarding points

Stage 1

(Note:  In Stage 1 teams operating from the Hab and Dome will have separate courses, with a visible divider. Do not cross the dividing line into the other team’s course.)

Task 1

10 pts Open the Toolbox lid and pick up the rock inside (so that the rock is held solely by rover arm). The sample rock may be dropped and picked up without penalty.
10 pts Open the Sample Cache lid and place the rock inside.  Neither the Toolbox lid nor the Sample Cache lid need to be closed afterwards.  The Toolbox will be black, and the Sample Cache will be white.

Task 2

30 pts There are several pieces of wreckage within a 20 m radius of a GNSS waypoint. Both the rover and drone can be used to scout for pieces, but a drone cannot pick up or deliver the wreckage pieces. The wreckage pieces may be delivered one at a time, or in groups, in any order, and may be dropped and picked up without penalty. The pieces will be in varying sizes and shapes.  Judges will provide details and show samples prior to the start of the course.  Larger pieces are worth 2 points, and small pieces are worth 5 points.  A piece must be delivered to the assigned astronaut (Hab vs. Dome) to receive points. No more than 30 points can be awarded for Task 2.

Task 3 - 20 pts

a) Use a drone to correctly read the number on a sign located on an elevated area. Teams only get 1 attempt to tell the judges what was on the sign. The sign will be at a location not accessible by the rover.

** or **

b) Navigate the rover from the starting cone to the 2nd cone, pick up a designated object (to be defined by judges), and deliver the designated object to the starting cone.  The two cones will be approximately 100m apart. 

Teams must declare whether they will attempt the drone (a) or cone path (b) prior to the start of Stage 1 time. Once Stage 1 has started, teams may not change their decision. If cone path is chosen, the drone may still be used for general scouting.

**** If 40pts or more are earned within the allotted Stage 1 time, then the judges will clear you to Stage 2 ****

Stage 2

Task 4

10 pts Pick up a designated object (judges will provide details) and deliver it to Astronaut # 2. No partial credit will be given. This object can be picked up and delivered by either rover or drone. The object may be dropped and picked up without penalty.

Task 5

20 pts There is another piece of wreckage located farther away in a remote canyon. Pick up the piece of remote wreckage with the rover and deliver it to Astronaut # 2. No partial credit. Teams may experience communication issues in this location.

Rules for delivering wreckage or designated objects. To receive credit:

• No part of the rover can touch any part of the astronaut / cone (task 3).

• The item must be dropped and come to a rest within 20 cm of the astronaut / cone (task 3), as measured from closest part of the object to the astronaut / cone, including touching the astronaut / cone.  

Rules for Drone Operations

• The drone may land and re-launch as many times as desired, but the team must request and receive permission for each launch.

• An outdoor safety spotter from the team is required to maintain visual line of sight at all times. A designated judge will remain with the spotter.

• The spotter must have radio communication with the pilot to avoid unsafe behavior of the drone, or may take direct control of the drone if a dual-pilot setup is used. The spotter may only intervene in the event of potentially unsafe operation, and may not otherwise participate in the mission.

• Any judge may direct stoppage of drone operations at any time.

• If the spotter takes control or alerts the pilot, drone operation is terminated. Spotter notifies the judge. No further launches permitted. Only drone operations are terminated, and there is no penalty.