DARPA Network Challenge Win $40K

[Greg Needel]

http://networkchallenge.darpa.mil/

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Internet, DARPA has announced the DARPA Network Challenge, a competition that will explore the role the Internet and social networking plays in the timely communication, wide area team-building and urgent mobilization required to solve broad scope, time-critical problems.

The challenge is to be the first to submit the locations of ten moored, 8 foot, red weather balloons located at ten fixed locations in the continental United States. Balloons will be in readily accessible locations and visible from nearby roadways.


With the network of Team in the US I think there is a very easy chance we could win this. 40k, Perhaps if we win we could give the money to FIRST to re-grant to some teams in need. Or split it amongst the teams that helped find the balloons.

Announcement October 29, 2009
Registration Opens December 1, 2009
Balloons Launched December 5, 2009
Submission Deadline December 14, 2009

[rsisk]

If we can figure out the Game Hints each year, this should be a cake walk.

[ATannahill]

I am game, it seems that there will be ten red balloons displayed for one day that we have to find. I wonder how good the satellite setting of google maps would be? Do they update daily?

[big1boom]

Sounds pretty cool.

Balloons will be in the air for 1 day only.

[Travis Covington]

What is stopping someone from setting up their own 8 foot red weather balloon, and throwing everyone off?

[Eugene Fang]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

I wonder how good the satellite setting of google maps would be? Do they update daily?

I believe they don't update images even close to daily.

[dqmot17]

Originally Posted by Pikat

I believe they don't update images even close to daily.

I believe they don't even update them once their done. They're still trying to get it finished.

[Travis Hoffman]

Where's Tyler Hansbrough when you need him? He's good at using social networks to find dogs; stationary balloons would be a piece of cake.

[Greg Needel]

Join the facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=163627713147

[keehun]

Originally Posted by Travis Covington

What is stopping someone from setting up their own 8 foot red weather balloon, and throwing everyone off?

I think this is a very important question..

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Travis Covington

What is stopping someone from setting up their own 8 foot red weather balloon, and throwing everyone off?

They might have already thought of this in some respects. Like they have certain balloons with some symbol on them. They could probably sue you if they found out that you did this. As much as $40,000 sounds like fun, I don't think I'll risk it.

Wouldn't it be funny if they put one in the Manchester millyards.

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by rsisk

If we can figure out the Game Hints each year, this should be a cake walk.

I agree 100%. Mind you, I mostly agree because of the success rate on figuring out game hints.

This is a hugely complex challenge... satellite survelliance isn't likely to be enough, as a tethered balloon can easily disappear under cloud cover... so even if you were to have daily updated images you'd likely still have a challenge ahead of you.

But that's kind of the point, isn't it?

Jason

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by rsisk

If we can figure out the Game Hints each year, this should be a cake walk.

Originally Posted by dtengineering

I agree 100%. Mind you, I mostly agree because of the success rate on figuring out game hints.

<snip>

Jason

Oh yeah, the "Opah" game hint was SO obvious (as soon as we saw the regolith), right?

What about this: enlist FedEx Ground truck drivers to participate. If Team FedEx wins, proceeds go towards FIRST robot shipping?

**Duh! Per the rules: Corporations or other organizations may not submit entries.

[rsisk]

`

What is stopping someone from setting up their own 8 foot red weather balloon, and throwing everyone off?

It's in the rules

Balloons will be in readily accessible locations, visible from nearby roadways and accompanied by DARPA representatives.

So they would have to spoof the DARPA rep as well

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by Travis Covington

What is stopping someone from setting up their own 8 foot red weather balloon, and throwing everyone off?

Hey, those kind of thoughts lead to thick rulebooks!

I believe the "updates" will expand the 2-page rulebook to handle this sort of behavior.

Maybe you will need to signal the DARPA rep somehow?? Will the DARPA rep be wearing a DARPA "uniform"?