European Rover Challenge

Leo Rover is a standard mobile robot used in the remote formula of the ERC since the 2020 edition. All the teams use the same rover in the competition and can run their software dedicated to the Tasks operation.

Leo Rover is a 4-wheeled small-scale mobile robot that is 433 mm long by 447 mm wide by 249 mm in height and of a weight of 6.5 kg (7.8 kg with payload). The Rover runs on Ubuntu with ROS Melodic. In ERC Remote Edition, Leo Rover comes with a special payload allowing for autonomy implementation and Tasks performance together with network devices allowing for low-latency and high-bandwidth connection to the Internet.

1. Simulation Task – This task, together with the Preliminary Report, is considered as a part of the qualification process. Teams are expected to record a short screencast video (max. 2 minutes) showing:
   • Leo Rover simulation: a short traversal of Leo Rover on the Mars Yard in Gazebo simulation showcasing skills such as driving with semi-autonomy, teleoperation with a controller, etc.
   • Robotic Arm simulation: a short movement of UR3 Robotic Arm in the Robotic Cell.
2. Science Task – The task aims to prepare and execute a simple science-driven exploration plan on the Mars Yard (geological map of the Mars Yard including a coherent geological interpretation of the ‘landing site’; a short description of the geological history of the area; a hypothesis related to the geology of the Mars Yard that can be tested by taking a picture in a specific location on the Mars Yard)
3. Navigation Task – The task aims to navigate Leo Rover safely through the Mars Yard, visit all waypoints, and deliver dedicated probes to each of the waypoints.
4. Maintenance Task – The essence of the task is to localize and turn off faulty elements of a device during its maintenance procedure and attach an additional sensor to the device's outer shell to be able to monitor it in the future. The teams need to manipulate buttons located on the device panel, stick a sensor to the device case, check for faulty appliances, and turn off the appliance. The wide range of requirements indicates the difficulty of this task. ArUco markers are installed on each component to allow the teams and the software to recognize the right components and fixtures.
5. Presentation Task – In this task, teams introduce themselves and present their projects. The Jury expects to learn how the team worked on the project, what kind of technical solutions were implemented in the rover (on-site formula) or the software (remote formula), what the approach of the Team to solve particular tasks during the competition was (e.g., electro-mechanical design, algorithms for both on-site and remote formulas), and how the team solved problems and issues that had occurred during development (lessons learned). Teams should also be prepared for a Q&A session and discussions with Judges.

1. Science Task – The task aims to prepare and execute a simple science-driven exploration plan on the Mars Yard (geological map of the Mars Yard including a coherent geological interpretation of the ‘landing site’; a short description of the geological history of the area; a hypothesis related to the geology of the Mars Yard that can be tested by taking a picture in a specific location on the Mars Yard)
2. Navigation Task – This task is intended to demonstrate the system's ability for semi- to fully autonomous traverse. The team has to develop a project that gradually evolves into a fully autonomous system, traversing and gathering important data on its way.
3. Probing Task – This task intends to demonstrate the ability of the system to place and collect probes from the rover's cache in the locations selected in the Science Task by the teams. Each team has to reach locations marked on the map, pick up the probes from their rover's on-board container and place them in the specified locations.
4. Maintenance Task – The task is intended to demonstrate the ability of rovers to operate a variety of elements mounted on a panel. Each team has to use their rover's manipulating device to set switches to the required positions, measure electrical parameters, set other panel controls and observe indicators’ feedback.
5. Presentation Task – In this task, teams introduce themselves and present their projects. The Jury expects to learn how the Team worked on the project, what kind of technical solutions are implemented in the rover (on-site formula) or the software (remote formula), what the approach of the Team to solve particular tasks during the competition was (e.g., electro-mechanical design, algorithms for both on-site and remote formulas), and how the team solved problems and issues that had occurred during development (lessons learned). Teams should also be prepared for a Q&A session and discussions with Judges.

The tasks are based on roadmaps – documents used in planning strategic missions of NASA and ESA. They are completed in the Mars Yard created from several tons of soil in a color resembling the surface of Mars. It includes natural obstacles copying the Martian landscapes.

Unlike other competitions of this kind, it is not allowed to use GPS during the ERC and team members do not see the robots they are navigating. They can only use their robot's camera view.[3]

The first edition of the ERC took place at the Regional Science and Technology Centre in Chęciny near Kielce, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The competition was attended by nine teams from Poland, Lithuania, India, Egypt, and Colombia. Among the guests, there was Professor Scott Hubbard, former head of NASA's Ames Research Centre, and Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.[5]

Winners:       

• 1st place: SCORPIO, Wrocław, Poland
• 2nd place: IMPULS, Kielce, Poland
• 3rd place: Lunar and Mars Rover Team, Cairo, Egypt

During the event, the Regional Science and Technology Centre, where the competition took place, was officially opened.

The second edition of the ERC also took place at the Regional Science and Technology Centre. The competition was attended by 29 teams from the US, Australia, India, Colombia, the Netherlands, Egypt, Poland, Canada, and other countries. Specials guests of the second edition included the last man on the Moon, Apollo 17 astronaut, Harrison Schmitt, and writer Andy Weir (the meeting was conducted remotely).

Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt at the ERC2015

Winners:

• 1st place: USST, Canada
• 2nd place: Next, Białystok, Poland
• 3rd place: McGill Robotics, Canada

In 2016, the competition took place in Jasionka near Rzeszów, Subcarpathian Voivodeship. The competition was attended by 23 teams from Poland (15 teams), Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, India, Turkey, Nepal, and other countries.

An important event during the ERC 2016 was a Polish part of a civil debate on the future of space exploration organized by the European Space Agency. The debate took place in 22 countries at the same time and was attended by 2,000 people who were not involved with the space sector. They discussed such subjects as space exploration, using its resources, and the growing importance of space. Its objective was to verify public opinion and the results were to be considered while developing future strategies of ESA.[6]

Competitors of the ERC2015

Winners:

• 1st place: Raptors, Poland
• 2nd place: Impuls, Poland
• 3rd place: McGill Robotics, Canada

4th edition 1st-place winner, Impuls from Poland

The fourth edition of the European Rover Challenge was organized in Starachowice, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, at the Museum of Nature and Technology. The competition was attended by 35 teams from 20 countries.[7] The fourth edition of the challenge was accompanied by the biggest Science and Technology Show Zone in history. It attracted over 25,000 visitors. Among the guests, there was astronaut Tim Peake, Artemis Westenberg – President of Explore Mars Europe, Gianfranco Visentin, Head of Automation and Robotics Section at ESA, and Maria Antonietta Perino, Head of Advanced Exploration Programmes at Thales Alenia Space.

It was the first time when Pro Formula had been organized along with the competition. It was addressed to professionals from the space sector and constructors of space robots who wanted to test their constructions in the Mars Yard without participating in the challenge.[8]

Winners:

• 1st place: Impuls, Poland           
• 2nd place: Raptors, Poland
• 3rd place: Robotics for Space Exploration, Canada
• Jury Award: RoverOva, Czech Republic

The ERC 2019 took place at the Kielce University of Technology with over 40 teams qualified for the competition.

The fifth edition of the challenge was accompanied by the Mentoring and Business Conference attended by representatives of the space sector from Poland, Europe and the whole world, including Steve Jurczyk, Associate Administrator at NASA, Maria Antonietta Perino from Thales Alenia Space, Gianfranco Visentin and Pantelis Poulakis from ESA and Artemis Westenberg from Explore Mars Europe.

Winners:

• 1st place: Impuls, Poland           
• 2nd place: AGH Space Systems, Poland
• 3rd place: RoverOva, Czech Republic

The sixth edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. Over 60 teams from all over the world applied to participate in the competition. The 2020 edition was the first one to introduce the remote formula. The competition was conducted using the Freedom Robotics platform and Leo Rover mobile robots. A total of 33 teams qualified for the finals.

Winners:[9]

• 1st place: ERIG e.V., Germany
• 2nd place: RoverOva, Czech Republic
• 3rd place (ex aequo): DJS Antariksh, India, and Robocol, Colombia

Additional awards:

• Best Design Award: Best Design: AGH Space Systems, Poland
• Best Design Award: Best Docs: STAR Dresden e.V., Germany
• Best Design Award: Best Science Design: ERIG e.V., Germany
• Best Autonomy Navigation: RoverOva, Czech Republic
• Best Scientists: METU Rover, Turkey
• Best Science Planning: DJS Antariksh, India
• Best Planetary Map: Robocol, Colombia
• Best Analysis: RoverOva, Czech Republic
• Best Dexterity: RoboClyde, UK
• Best Presentation: AGH Space Systems, Poland
• Mathworks Special Prize: SKA Robotics, Poland

The 2020 edition was the first to be broadcast live on the organizer's website during the three days of the event. The guests of the ERC2020 industry conference were, among others:

• Natalia Lemarquis – United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs Space4Women;
• Giuliana Rotola – European Southern Observatory; International Space University;
• Maria-Gabriella Sarah – European Space Agency;
• Gianfranco Visentin – European Space Agency;
• Douglas Terrier – National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
• Pascale Ehrenfreund – International Astronautical Federation; Space Policy Institute;
• Ken Davidian – Federal Aviation Administration.

The seventh edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. The 2021 edition was the first to be held in both on-site and remote formulas.

Winners:[10]

• 1st place (on-site): Impuls Team, Poland
• 2nd place (on-site): ITU Rover Team, Turkey
• 3rd place (on-site): EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
• 1st place (remote): DJS Antariksh, India
• 2nd place (remote): ERIG, Germany
• 3rd place (remote): RoboClyde, UK

Additional awards:

• Best Navigation (on-site): AGH Space Systems, Poland
• Best Maintenance (on-site): ITU Rover Team, Turkey
• Best Science (on-site): EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
• Best Probing (on-site): EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
• Best Presentation (on-site): AGH Space Systems, Poland
• Best Navigation (remote): DJS Antariksh, India
• Best Maintenance (remote): ERIG, Germany
• Best Science (remote): DJS Antariksh, India
• Best Presentation (remote): Mars Rover Manipal, India

Selected speakers that appeared during the ERC 2021 live broadcast:

• Robert D. Cabana – NASA Associate Administrator;
• Robert Zubrin – Mars Society, Pioneer Astronautics;
• Annalisa Donati – EURISY;
• Chris Welch – International Space University;
• Maria Antonietta Perino – Thales Alenia Space;
• Grzegorz Wrochna – Polska Agencja Kosmiczna;
• Artemis Westenberg – Explore Mars Europe.

The eighth edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. Similar to the previous year's edition, the ERC 2022 was held in both on-site and remote formulas.

Winners:[11]

• 1st place (on-site): AGH Space Systems, Poland
• 2nd place (on-site): EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
• 3rd place (on-site): ITU Rover Team, Turkey
• 1st place (remote): DJS Antariksh, India
• 2nd place (remote): Mars Rover Manipal, India
• 3rd place (remote): Project RED, Italy

Additional awards:

• Best Performance NAVIGATION (on-site): EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
• Best Performance NAVIGATION (remote): IIT Bombay Mars Rover Team, India
• Best Performance MAINTENANCE (on-site): Frankfurt Robotics Science Team (FROST), Germany
• Best Performance MAINTENANCE (remote): Mars Rover Manipal, India
• Best Performance SCIENCE (on-site): ERIG, Germany
• Best Performance SCIENCE (remote): Mars Rover Manipal, India
• Best Performance PROBING: STAR Dresden, Germany
• Best Performance PRESENTATION (on-site): ITU Rover Team, Turkey
• Best Performance PRESENTATION (remote): Mars Rover Manipal, India