[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 54853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19627]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


 Notice of Centennial Challenges Space Robotics Challenge

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

NOTICE: (16-056).

ACTION: Notice of Centennial Challenges Space Robotics Challenge.

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SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 51 U.S.C. 20144(c). 
The Space Robotics Challenge is open and teams that wish to compete may 
now register. Centennial Challenges is a program of prize competitions 
to stimulate innovation in technologies of interest and value to NASA 
and the nation. The Space Robotics Challenge is a prize competition 
with a $1,000,000 total prize purse to be divided among teams that 
develop software to increase the autonomy of dexterous humanoid robots. 
Teams will use software to control a simulated R5 to resolve problems 
in a virtual environment. NASA is providing the prize purse. Space 
Center Houston in partnership with Nine Sigma will manage the 
challenge.

DATES: Challenge registration opens August 16, 2016 and will remain 
open until September 16, 2016.
    Other important dates:

September 19, 2016--Qualification Software version 1
November 15, 2016--Qualification Deadline
December 1, 2016--Qualification Results Announced
June 13-16, 2017--Virtual Competition

ADDRESSES: The Space Robotics Challenge is a virtual competition. The 
qualification rounds will take place at participant labs and the final 
competition will take place at Space Center Houston/Johnson Space 
Center.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To register for or get additional 
information regarding the Space Robotics Challenge, please visit: 
www.spaceroboticschallenge.com.
    For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program 
please visit: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. General questions and 
comments regarding the program should be addressed to Monsi Roman, 
Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, AL 35812. Email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary

    The following virtual challenge scenario serves as a backdrop for 
developing coding advancements that enable the autonomy of humanoid 
robotics:
    In the not too distant future, R5 as arrived on Mars along with 
supplies ahead of a human mission. Overnight a dust storm damaged the 
habitat and solar array, and caused the primary communication antenna 
to become misaligned. R5 must now repair an air leak in the habitat, 
deploy a new solar panel, and align the communication antenna.
    Teams will use software to control a simulated R5 in order to 
resolve the problems caused by the dust storm. Each team will be 
evaluated according to a scoring metric that considers the number of 
tasks completed and the time required to complete the tasks.
    The competition arena will contain a rover, solar panels, 
communication dish, and a habitat on a Martian plain. Each component 
will be within eyesight and walking distance of each other. Practice 
environments, similar to those used in the final competition, will be 
provided to teams.

I. Prize Amounts

    The total Space Robotics prize purse is $1,000,000 (one million 
U.S. dollars).

$100,000 Engagement Challenge
$300,000 Qualifying round (The top 20 qualifying teams will receive 
$15,000 each)
$600,000 Virtual Competition with prizes as follows:

    First place: $125,000
    Second place: $100,000
    Third Place: $50,000
    Fourth Place: $25,000
    $50,000 bonus prizes awarded to as many as 6 teams

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) Not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the 
scope of their employment.

III. Rules

    The complete rules for the Space Robotics Challenge can be found 
at: www.spaceroboticschallenge.com.

Cheryl Parker,
NASA Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-19627 Filed 8-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7510-13-P