Lots of robot competitions out there

[RoboMom]

Thanks to Miss Mary, from Northrop Grumman, for flooding my in-box.

AUVSI Student Competitions
In 1990, AUVSI realized the need to introduce future generations of engineers, scientists and operators to unmanned systems. To that end, AUVSI has created four different Competitions to challenge students to design, build and deploy air, ground and underwater autonomous unmanned systems.
The missions and requirements for each Competition vary but the common thread in each is the requirement for autonomous operation: The entries are not remotely controlled but are programmed to sense their surroundings and respond accordingly, independent of any external control by an operator.
These Competitions have captured the imagination of students, industry, the media and the public as they have been featured on The Discovery Channel, Scientific American Frontiers and other television, radio and print outlets around the world. http://www.auvsi.org/AUVSI/AUVSI/Eve...s/Default.aspx

Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC)
The IGVC challenges college student teams to develop an autonomous ground vehicle that must navigate a complicated obstacle course, complete with an extensive list of mobility and design requirements. Partnerships between students and industry leaders enable the competition to not only serve as a unique educational experience, but also a way to get an inside view of design challenges and establish connections with potential mentors or future employers. Website - http://www.igvc.org/

Student Unmanned Air System (SUAS) Competition
16-20 June 2010
Webster Field
Patuxent River, MD, USA
The SUAS Competition, aimed at stimulating and fostering interest in unmanned air systems, technologies and careers, is focused on engaging students in a challenging mission. It requires the design, integration and demonstration of a system capable of conducting air operations to include autonomous flight, navigation of a specified course and use of onboard payload sensors. Additionally, students are required to submit technical journal papers and make oral presentations.
Website - http://65.210.16.57/studentcomp2010/default.html

International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC)
9-13 August 2010 The IARC requires collegiate teams to create fully autonomous flying robots capable of negotiating urban warfare situations from a significand stand-off distands of 3km. Each aerial robot must independently find and enter a designated building to locate and relay specific target information in under 15 minutes. The IARC allows student teams to prepare for challenges that have robotic applications highly relevant to DoD or MoD programs. Website - http://iarc.angel-strike.com/

AUVSI and ONR's 3rd International Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) Competition
10-13 June 2010
Founders Inn & Spa
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
The Autonomous Surface Vehicle Competition (ASVC) is a student competition based around unmanned boats operating under rules of the waterway. This includes littoral area navigation, channel following and autonomous docking. This is typically done with computer vision, multi-sensor fusion techniques, proactive and reactive path planning, and machine learning approaches using embedded systems within the vehicle.
Website - http://www.auvsifoundation.org/AUVSI...n/Default.aspx

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AUVSI and ONR's 13th International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Competition
13-18 July 2010
SSC Pacific TRANSDEC
San Diego, CA, USA
Co-sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the goal of this competition is to advance the development of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) by challenging a new generation of engineers to perform realistic missions in an underwater environment. This event also serves to foster ties between young engineers and the organizations developing AUV technologies. Website - http://www.auvsifoundation.org/AUVSI...n/Default.aspx


Here are a few of the nationwide Robotic Underwater / Submersible Competitions:
• Sea Perch underwater ROV Program – Middle and High School teams all over nation, esp. in MD, VA,
• International Submarine Races – competition held at NSWC Carderock, VA, outside of DC
• MATE International ROV Competition – 19 Regionals, incl. Hampton, VA and Philadelphia, PA. Finals at Univ. of Hawaii, Hilo. May 22nd, 2010 --- MATE Pennsylvania Regional ROV (Remote-Operated-Vehicle) Challenge, Villanova University,
Villanova, PA (underwater robotics)
(http://www.marinetech.org/rov_compet...etition_id=151 )
• National Underwater Robotics Challenge (NURC) – teams in PA and AZ
• AUVSI’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Competition – finals held at TRANSDEC, San Diego, California, USA. Univ. of MD College Park Team won in 2008.


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Other excellent AUVSI competitions, some sponsored by Northrop Grumman:
• AUVSI and ONR's International Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) Competition - Virginia Beach, VA, USA
• AUVSI’s International Aerial Robotics Competition (IARC) – finals to be held August, 2010at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM)
• AUVSI’s Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) – finals held in Rochester, Michigan
• AUVSI’s Student Unmanned Air System (SUAS) Competition – finals held at Webster Field, Patuxent River, MD, USA

Other Challenges:

The Northrop Grumman Information Systems Sector, based in VA, announced they are supporting competition #2, CyberPatriot Defense.



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Please click for more info on US Cyber Challenges: http://csis.org/uscc

· #1: DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge

· #2: CyberPatriot Defense Competition

· #3: Netwars Capture-the-Flag Competition



See attached flyer & info below for more information on each program above.



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#1: DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge

http://www.dc3.mil/challenge/2010/

Overview

The DC3 Challenge encourages innovation from a broad range of individuals, teams, and institutions to provide technical solutions for computer forensic examiners in the lab as well as in the field. Approximately 25 different challenges ranging from basic forensics to advanced tool development are being provided to all participants. The challenges are single based challenges and are designed to be unique and separate from one another. This format is different than the whole forensic process scenario, with incorporated challenges, provided for the 2009 DC3 Challenge.



Requirements

Challenge entry is open to both individuals and teams. Teams may include corporate or academic entities but are not limited to these. Each entry must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. An individual cannot participate on more than one team or compete with multiple entries.

2. Teams will consist of one to four members.

3. A team member will be assigned as the team leader and considered the sole Point of Contact (POC).

4. All members are required to provide their personal information (Full Name, Address, Telephone Number, Email Address, Etc) for team approval. Failure to provide accurate personal information will deny your application.

5. Each team must fall into one of the following categories. Team must choose category that will be relevant when team challenge packet is submitted.

· High School Student – A person or team that is attending a high school and has NOT graduated before the submission of the final Challenge package.

· High School Faculty – A person or team that teaches in a High School facility.

· Civilian, Military, Undergraduate, Graduate, Foreign National, Etc.

7. If participant is under the age of 18, the team member(s) should advise their parent/legal guardian of their participation. If under 18 and in the winner category, a consent form must be signed by parent or legal guardian for distribution of prizes.



Important Dates

2009-12-15: Registration Opens

2010-11-01: Registration Closes

2010-11-02: Solutions Due

2010-12-01: Winners Announced



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#2: CyberPatriot Defense Competition

http://registration.afa.org/reg/reg1...pe=RequestInfo

Air Force Association's CyberPatriot – National High School Cyber Defense Competition: Orlando Fl, February 18-19, 2010



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#3: Netwars Capture-the-Flag Competition

http://www.sans.org/netwars/



Eligibility: The game is aimed at students from high school through graduate school. Others may play as well.



Do you really know your way around computers? Do you think you can recover the password from a computer? Take control of a service? Protect the system against other players who might want to take it over?



Netwars is the latest online game: an adventure across the Internet. You can play the game as an analyst, a penetration tester, a defender, or any combination. You earn points by finding keys, moving to higher levels, capturing services such as a website, overcoming obstacles (attack techniques) and protecting resources (defensive techniques). You can see the other players' scores and your own points scored, live, or on an overall scoreboard.



The NetWars game is a collection of computer and network security challenges. It is designed to represent real-world security issues: their flaws and their resolutions. Each player can follow an independent path based on individual problem solving skills, technical skills, aptitude, and creativity. The game is played in a fun but safe environment using the technology that drives our lives every day.



The game starts when a player downloads and starts a CD-ROM image on a PC or in a virtual environment such as VMware Player. The image contains a brief tutorial and the game's full instructions.



The player must find a hidden key within the image that is downloaded and then uses that key to enter an online environment where knowledge of security vulnerabilities and their exploits can be turned into points.



The NetWars game can be played in a few hours over one or several days.



The first round, called the Pioneer Round, is being played June 22-29. Additional rounds will be posted as soon as the results from the first round are analyzed and the game adjusted.



You don't have to be an overall winner to earn bragging rights.



All who play fairly and well will get recognition and many will get awards





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Several other similar programs exist, like eCYBERMISSION by US ARMY.



http://www.army.mil/features/ecybermission/default.htm



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Don’t be afraid to ask Challenge Leads about number of students participating, and geographic or demographic data of participants.

Each program has a different level of participation.