[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 49296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19613]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice 13-093]


Centennial Challenges 2014 Sample Return Robot Challenge

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of Centennial Challenges 2014 Sample Return Robot 
Challenge.

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SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 51 U.S.C. 20144(c).
    The 2014 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 2014 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: 2014 Sample Return Robot Challenge will be held June 10-13, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: 2014 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 2014 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 $1,495,000 (one 
million four hundred ninety five 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 2014 Sample Return 
Robot Challenge can be found at: http://challenge.wpi.edu

    Dated: July 17, 2013.
James J. Reuther,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, Space Technology Mission 
Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-19613 Filed 8-12-13; 8:45 am]
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