Media Release
| Jul. 8, 2005
Autonomous Robots to Compete in Simulated Mars Mission at UBC
Event: Robot Competition: simulation of a planetary mission
Date / Time: Monday, July 11, 2005 7:30 p.m.
Location: Atrium, Forest Sciences Centre, 2424 Main Mall, UBC
Map & Parking: Nearest parking at Health Sciences Parkade. For map visit www.maps.ubc.ca
Web site: www.isu2005.ubc.ca
VANCOUVER -- Six autonomous robots will compete in a simulated Mars mission as part of the Summer Session Program of the International Space University, hosted by The University of British Columbia.
Using only LEGO â Mindstorms kits, six teams of graduate-level students from around the world will build 12-inch tall robots equipped with an on-board computer and various sensors, which enable them to differentiate valuable mineral samples from ordinary rocks -- a crucial task in planetary exploration. The robots are required to complete the mission and return to the base station without any human control.
Under the guidance of renowned robotics experts, Prof. Kazuya Yoshida from Japan's Tohoku University and Satoko Abiko from the German Space Agency, students will build their robots from scratch and compete in front of a public audience.
"Robotics is a promising technology for expanding the frontier of space activities," says Prof. Yoshida. "Particularly, intelligent mobile robots exhibit great capability to enhance scientific returns in the exploration of a remote planet."
NB: Contestants will build their robots from 2-5pm, July 8-9 in room 1406 at the Forest Sciences Centre. Please contact Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom for more information.
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