Grabs In 2014 NASA, WPI Robot Challenge

NASA and the WPI will be looking for robots that can autonomously navigate varying terrain in search of geologic samples. These bits of mineral, soil, rock and more are then collected and returned to be tested. The 2014 Sample Return Robot challenge is held as an extension of NASA's Centennial Challenges program. NASA is responsible for raising the reward money for the'petition with some help from nonprofit organizations and'mercial and private partnerships."The objective of the'petition is to encourage innovations in automatic navigation and robotic manipulator technologies that NASA could incorporate into future missions," explained Michael Gazarik, Speaking robot has sent to the space from Japan.

"Innovations stemming from this challenge may improve NASA's capability to explore an asteroid or Mars, and advance robotic technology for use in industries and applications here on Earth."In June NASA awarded a $5,000 prize purse to Team Survey of Los Angeles when they successfully'pleted the Level 1 portion of the 2013 Sample Return Robot contest. Sam Ortega, the program manager for Centennial Challenges, said at the time that the teams have been improving their robots with each level in the contest."It is evident from the level of improvements the teams have shown from last year's event to this week's Level 1 win that the technology has significantly progressed, and the desired results of this challenge are within reach," Ortega said when the prize money was doled out in June.

Teams are expected to continue improving on their designs as technology improves and teams continue to push their designs to their limits. Registration for the 2014 Sample Return Robot challenge is open now through January 7, 2014."We're honored and excited to once again host the Sample Return Robot Challenge," said Philip B. Ryan, WPI's interim president in a statement."This year, 10,000 people turned out to watch the'petition and to enjoy WPI's fantastic 'Touch Tomorrow Festival' of science, technology and robots. It's a pleasure to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in the wonders of this'petition, this festival and this emerging field."