Colorado Robot Challenge April 7th, :00 a.m.

Mission To Develop Autonomous Robots Capable of Functioning in Harsh Environments

We will be developing and field testing the technology which will allow small robots to operate either independently or in interactive swarms in such harsh environments as: * volcanic calderas * mines * collapsed buildings * other planets or moons

Test of Concepts The first test of our design concepts will be on April 7 th, 2007 either at or near the Great Sand Dunes National Monument.

Satellite Image Great Sand Dunes National Monument

Satellite Image Sand Dunes on Mars

The challenges the terrain presents are not trivial; it is the perfect outdoors laboratory where different ideas can be tested and evaluated: –The site at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument is an excellent location for a simulated Mars mission. –The terrain near the Sand Dunes creates an environment similar to what can be found on Mars. –Participants should design their robots to function in a range of temperatures. –There will be wind which can render many sensors non- functional. –There is concern that the moving sand can created static electricity which could damage the microcontrollers and memory in the robots. –Finally, sand has a way of rendering moving parts inoperative. Great Sand Dunes National Monument

Not the First to Link Mars to the Great Sand Dunes! The Viking Lander was tested on the Dunes. The engineers were looking for an environment similar to what they thought the Landers would find on Mars. Like us, they used the area near the Dunes.

Differences Our goals are different from either the Viking Landers or even the two rovers presently on Mars. Our robots are true robots! They must be completely autonomous reaching the goal by driving 25 ft to 30 ft over difficult terrain.