[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 70835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28732]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


Centennial Challenges 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice .

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NOTICE: (12-103).
SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 51 U.S.C. 20144(c). 
The 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge is scheduled and teams that wish 
to compete may register. Centennial Challenges is a program of prize 
competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies of interest and 
value to NASA and the nation. The 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge is 
a prize competition designed to encourage development of new 
technologies or application of existing technologies in unique ways to 
create robots that can autonomously seek out samples and return to a 
designated point in a set time period. Worcester Polytechnic Institute 
(WPI) of Worcester, Massachusetts administers the Challenge for NASA. 
NASA is providing the prize purse.

DATES: 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge will be held June 4-7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge will be conducted at 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for or get additional 
information regarding the 2013 Sample Return Robot Challenge, please 
visit: http://challenge.wpi.edu.
    For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program 
please visit: www.nasa.gov/challenges. General questions and comments 
regarding the program should be addressed to Dr. Larry Cooper, 
Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Headquarters 300 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC, 20546-0001. Email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary

    Autonomous robot rovers will seek out samples and return them to a 
designated point in a set time period. Samples will be randomly placed 
throughout the roving area. They may be placed close to obstacles, both 
movable and immovable. Robots will be required to navigate over unknown 
terrain, around obstacles, and in varied lighting conditions to 
identify, retrieve, and return these samples. Winners will be 
determined based on the number of samples returned to the designated 
collection point as well as the value assigned to the samples.

I. Prize Amounts

    The total Sample Return Robot Challenge purse is $1,500,000 (one 
million five hundred thousand U.S. dollars). Prizes will be offered for 
entries that meet specific requirements detailed in the Rules.

II. Eligibility

    To be eligible to win a prize, competitors must (1) register and 
comply with all requirements in the rules and team agreement; (2) in 
the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a 
primary place of business in the United States, and in the case of an 
individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a 
citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and (3) shall not 
be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of 
their employment.

III. Rules

    The complete rules and team agreement for the 2013 Sample Return 
Robot Challenge can be found at: http://challenge.wpi.edu

    Dated: November 20, 2012.
Michael J. Gazarik,
Director, Space Technology Program, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-28732 Filed 11-26-12; 8:45 am]
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