Caterpillar Autonomy Challenge

Welcome to the Caterpillar Autonomy Challenge! In this edition of 2024, we focus on autonomous capabilities and picking skills of robots designed for space exploration. Participant’s creations should resemble rovers but need not use space-grade components. This competition lays the foundation by assessing the robot’s ability to navigate and pick objects independently. In upcoming editions, we aspire to elevate the challenge by introducing tasks like sand drilling and mining. Join us in pushing the boundaries of space robotics. Refer to the problem statement for further details.

Guidelines:

• Click here for problem statement.
• A team should not have more than 5 participants.
• The level of autonomy of the robot will also be considered in judging.
• The robot has to complete the given task in order to gain points.
• The arena is of the dimensions 15m*10m.

Preliminary Round:

• All the competing teams must submit a pre-recorded video of their robot in motion.
• In the form provided by us before the 15th of December 2023, any extensions will be informed.

Final Round:

• Each robot will be given 2 attempts to travel through the arena to collect and deposit the rocks.
• During evaluation, the points of both attempts will be added.

Rules:

• Rover maximum mass of 75kg and within a 1.5m*1.5m*1m envelope.
• The rover must be equipped with an easily accessible red emergency stop button or "Kill Switch" to ensure quick and reliable shutdown when needed.
• No physical access to the rover will be allowed during each competition attempt.
• GPS or IMU-enabled GPS devices are allowed but may incur penalty points.
• To attend the finals at IIT Madras, shaastra passport is mandatory, Every individual must apply for a passport on Shaastra website. Detailed procedures will be communicated to the finalists following the announcement of pre-final round results.