URC2025 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.

You begin your task by leaving the station, following a marked route (Task 1).

You will support Astronaut #1 by collecting a rock from the Toolbox and delivering it to the Science Cache (Task 2). You will then travel 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 #1 (Task 3).

During Stage 1 teams may use their drone to inspect a sign up on a ridge (hill), and report the information on that sign to judges (Task 4).

Once you have been cleared for Stage 2, your team has the option to use either your drone or rover to complete Task 4. You will then retrieve a Designated Object (teams will be told what the object is before beginning on the course) and deliver it to Astronaut #2 (Task 5). Finally, your team will retrieve a piece of wreckage that is located in a remote canyon where communication issues are likely to be encountered and deliver it to Astronaut #2 (Task 6).

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

2025 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 rover must travel by the defined route when specified by cones or other markers. If no path is defined, the rover may proceed by any path.
d) The tasks in each stage can be conducted in any order, while still in that stage. Teams may go back to a previous task within the current stage as desired, except: Task 1 cannot be re-attempted. There may be multiple ways to do a task – teams are free to approach the tasks is a variety of ways, or to combine tasks.  Once a team has started on Stage 2 the rover cannot return to a Stage 1 task.
e) Teams will be informed during Stage 1 if they reach 40 points and are cleared to Stage 2. Teams may complete Stage 1 tasks before moving to Stage 2.
f) A drone can be used to scout any part of the course (Stage 1 or Stage 2) at any time.
g) 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

5 pts All wheels of the rover clear the start line.
5 pts The rover completes the entire route (all wheels clear the finish line) with no wheels passing outside of the defined path.

Task 2

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 3

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. The wreckage pieces may be delivered by rover one at a time, or in groups, in any order, and may be dropped and picked up without penalty. A drone cannot be used to pick up or deliver the wreckage pieces.
The pieces of wreckage are of two sizes. Judges will provide details and show samples to the teams prior to the start of the course. Larger pieces are worth 2 points, and small pieces are worth 5 points, to pick up and deliver to the Astronaut.  A piece must be delivered to the Astronaut to receive points.
Teams will deliver wreckage pieces from their assigned area (Hab vs. Dome) to their assigned Astronaut. Points are not awarded for delivery of the wrong area’s wreckage pieces, or delivering to the wrong Astronaut.
No more than 20 points will be awarded for Task 3.

Task 4

20 pts Use a drone to correctly read the number on a sign located on an elevated ridge. This can be done during either Stage 1 or, if the team is cleared, in Stage 2. Teams only get 1 attempt to tell the judges what was on the sign.

**** 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 (Optional)

Once cleared to Stage 2, teams have the option to use either their drone or rover to correctly read the number on a sign up on the ridge.
Points may only be obtained 1 time.

Task 5

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 6

There is another piece of wreckage located farther away in a remote canyon
20 pts 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 pieces to Astronauts. To receive credit:

• No part of the rover can touch any part of the Astronaut.

• The item must be dropped on the Astronaut, or on the ground within 20 cm of the Astronaut (closest part of Astronaut to closest part of the item delivered).

Rules for Drone Operations

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

• Spotter must stay near Judge.

• Judge may stop drone operation at any time.

• If the spotter takes control or alerts inside team, drone operation is terminated. Spotter notifies outside Judge. No further launches permitted.