The Challenge Is On: Robot Prize Competition Registration Opens

[NASA News <hqnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sept. 19, 2011

David E. Steitz 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1730 
david.steitz@xxxxxxxx 

Eileen Brangan-Mell 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass. 
508-831-6785 
ebmell@xxxxxxx   


RELEASE: 11-307

THE CHALLENGE IS ON: ROBOT PRIZE COMPETITION REGISTRATION OPENS

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 
Worcester, Mass., are seeking teams to compete in a robot technology 
demonstration competition with a potential $1.5 million prize. 

During the Sample Return Robot Challenge, teams will compete to 
demonstrate a robot that can locate and retrieve geologic samples 
from a wide and varied terrain without human control. The objective 
of the competition is to encourage innovations in automatic 
navigation and robotic manipulator technologies. Innovations stemming 
from this challenge may improve NASA's capability to explore a 
variety of destinations in space, as well as enhance the nation's 
robotic technology for use in industries and applications on Earth. 

"NASA's Centennial Challenges competitions engage teams from across 
the country to solve the technology hurdles NASA faces as we explore 
new frontiers," said Mike Gazarik, director of NASA's Space 
Technology Program in Washington. "We're looking forward to teams 
registering to compete, so they can unleash their creative 
problem-solvers to take on this robotic technology challenge." 

NASA provides the prize money to the winning team as part of the 
agency's Centennial Challenges competitions, which seek 
unconventional solutions to problems of interest to the agency and 
the nation. While NASA provides the prize purse, the competitions are 
managed by non-profit organizations that cover the cost of operations 
through commercial or private sponsorships. The competition is 
planned for June 2012 in Worcester and is anticipated to attract 
hundreds of competitors from industry and academia nationwide. 

"WPI takes tremendous pride in being the first university selected by 
NASA as a partner for a Centennial Challenge," said WPI President and 
CEO Dennis D. Berkey. "This university is a hub of expertise and 
innovation within the area of robotics, and like NASA, we believe 
strongly in the promise of this industry. Accordingly, we have 
invested deeply in growing our programs and growing interest in the 
field among young people. We are looking forward to an exciting 
competition." 

There have been 21 NASA Centennial Challenges competitions since 2005. 
Through this program, NASA has awarded $4.5 million to 13 different 
challenge-winning teams. Competitors have included private companies, 
student groups and independent inventors working outside the 
traditional aerospace industry. Unlike contracts or grants, prizes 
are awarded only after solutions are successfully demonstrated. 

For more information about the Sample Return Robot Challenge, visit: 


http://challenge.wpi.edu 


The Centennial Challenges program is part of NASA's Office of the 
Chief Technologist. For more information about NASA's Centennial 
Challenges and the Office of the Chief Technologist, visit: 


http://www.nasa.gov/oct   

	
-end-



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