The DARPA Subterranean (SubT) Challenge Urban Circuit will take place Feb. 18-27, 2020, at Satsop Business Park west of Olympia, Washington. In the SubT Challenge, teams deploy autonomous ground and aerial systems to attempt to map, identify, and report artifacts along two competition courses. The artifacts represent items a first responder or service member may encounter in underground environments.

Systems competitors from around the world will field their robot teams to find as many artifacts as possible in complex underground settings. Prizes of $500,000 for first place, $250,000 for second place, and $100,000 for third place are available for top performers among self-funded teams.

DARPA-funded and self-funded teams compete side-by-side throughout the Subterranean Challenge. Only self-funded teams, however, are eligible for prizes in the circuit events. All qualified teams are eligible for prizes in the Final Event.

Three artifacts are common to all three circuit events, which take place in tunnel, urban, and cave environments. The common artifacts include a thermal manikin that emulates a human survivor; a cell phone; and an adult-sized red backpack. Each circuit will have two unique artifacts for a total of five different item types teams will attempt to locate and identify.

For the Urban Circuit, the new artifacts are gas and a vent. The gas artifact is a CO2-emitting device used to simulate a range of hazardous air quality conditions, such as a gas leak, poor ventilation, or fumes and smoke.

Finding this artifact represents identifying areas that would be hazardous for personnel, including areas where breathing apparatus may be necessary. The vent artifact is a typical supply register commonly found in homes or work environments. Finding this artifact represents identifying potential areas with fresh air or an escape route to the surface.

During the Final Event in August 2021 teams will incorporate all three subdomains, which are expected to include all nine artifacts. Teams earn points by correctly identifying artifacts within 5 meters. The final score will be a total of each team's best score from each of the courses.

Teams interested in the Systems Competition have until Dec. 3 to submit their qualification materials to compete in the upcoming SubT Challenge Urban Circuit.

Teams have until Jan. 3, 2020, to submit for qualification in the complementary Virtual Competition of the Urban Circuit in which teams develop software-based approaches to test on a simulated course. Prizes in the Virtual Competition are $250,000 for first place, $150,000 for second place, and $100,000 for third place.

Teams interested in joining either the Systems or Virtual competition, or both, are encouraged to join the SubT Community Forum, where they can engage with other participants and ask questions. For additional information, please see updated versions of the Qualification Guide, Artifacts Specification, Interface Control Document, and Transponder and Emergency Stop Integration Guide.

Related Links
DARPA Subterranean Challenge
All about the robots on Earth and beyond!

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Chinese researchers design novel flying robot
Beijing, China (SPX) Nov 11, 2019
Skyscrapers are rising rapidly around the world, continuously transforming city skylines. However, their repair and maintenance is becoming more and more difficult. So, who can safely perform the job? Will a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man help out? No, but Chinese researchers at the Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have designed a promising alternative. Recently, they reported the development of a contact aerial manipulator system that shows high fl ... read more