European Rover Challenge 2020
This year ERC 2020 was held in a completely new format because of the pandemic. Teams were given remote control of a rover placed into the competition area in Poland that had been modeled after Mars. Top-down images and a height map of the area were provided to the competing teams. 33 finalists were chosen to compete after the selection process, and our team who has joined ERC for the first time was Awarded the “Best Scientists” award and placed 4th.
Science Task
Teams were given the height maps, aerial images of the map and asked to analyze geomorphological and geological structures. Science teams were expected to describe how these structures might have formed and how old they could be. Additionally, during the traversal, the teams were expected to take photos and document objects they thought were important findings.
Navigation Task
During the Navigation task teams are expected to traverse the course autonomously. The Rover has to stop on multiple waypoints placed along the path and after reaching them jury members take measurements and assign points. To determine the location of the Rover relative to the course, ARTag beacons placed along the path are used.
Maintenance Task
For the maintenance task, the rover is expected to operate on a control panel with the help of a robotic arm. Some of these operations are: Changing the positions of the switches. retrieving an electrical plug and connecting it to the correct receptacle and changing the value of a potentiometer. During the remote operation of the Rover, jury members grade the level of autonomy and assign points according to objectives completed.
Presentation Task
The team is expected to present how their team came to be, what they have done, and how they have progressed, future objective, and their team structure. Processes they went through are also described with purposes and reasonings, and ideas to improve ERC are taken in.