What is it?
The goal of this competition is to provide an exciting opportunity to build a component that controls and runs on a real self-driving car---the University of Arizona's CAT Vehicle. The competition's framework is to generate a 3D simulation world that mirrors the world the CAT Vehicle has driven through.
What will teams do?
The teams will create ROS software components, which may be prototyped using Simulink toolboxes. At the conclusion of the competition, there will be new capabilities to generate simulation environments simply by driving around in the real-world, which will enable more advanced simulation-based testing of autonomous vehicles.
What if it works?
Teams who succeed will have the opportunity to travel to Tucson, AZ, to drive the CAT Vehicle with their code.
Why do this challenge?
We need your ideas
Current moving robotics simulation depends on the creation of 3D world files that reflect a realistic operating environment for the moving robot.
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Why do this challenge?
Expand your horizons
In the Robotics Operating System, a common 3D environment is Gazebo, whose world files are composed of different kinds of obstacles, and textures of the ground.
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Why do this challenge?
Make a difference
Your efforts will save time when performing hardware-in-the-loop testing of the robotic system. Reduce the time to create the world file from weeks to minutes.
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Competition Process
When does it happen?
0. Sign Up
1. Submit Tutorial Results (1/31)
2. Detect Environment Features (3/11)
3. Transform Features into Gazebo Models (3/31)
4. Drive CAT Vehicle in Tucson (4/24)
Have You Decided To Do It Already?
Question: Will all teams get to go to Tucson?
Answer:
Only top teams who have successfully completed Task 3 will be invited to come to Tucson. We expect to cover costs for approximately 9-12 students to come to drive the car in person, but invited teams can raise their own funds to pay for others to attend.Question: What is the expected composition of a team?
Answer:
Teams should be primarily made of undergraduates, though graduate students may advise and participate.Question: Can anyone participate?
Answer:
Anyone can use the simulator or attempt the challenges. However, the final invitations for participation in Tucson may be limited to teams from undergraduate institutions in the United States.Question: What does it cost?
Answer:
There is no cost to participate. Teams must sign up for accounts on the Cyber-Physical Systems Virtual Organization (CPS-VO) to use the test simulator. Licenses for other software are not provided by the challenge.Question: Is there a limit on the number of team members?
Answer:
There is no limit on the number of team members. However, we expect to cover costs for only about 3 team members for teams invited to drive the CAT Vehicle in Tucson.Question: How many graduate students per team?
Answer:
We recommend a structure where 1-2 graduate students mentors a team of undergraduates, but we don't specify the precise breakdown.Question: Do all team members need to register?
Answer:
We recommend all team members to register at the CPS-VO so they can post questions, and be notified of competition updates. The submission to Task 1 will include the names of all team members, and identify a team leader.Question: We don't have MATLAB/Simulink, can we participate?
Answer:
There is no requirement to use MATLAB or Simulink, but we believe those tools will help you in much of the challenge. MathWorks may agree to make licenses available to teams who are able to complete Task 1.Organizing Team
Challenge designers and organizers from the University of Arizona
Swati Munjal
Reference Implementations
Kennon McKeever
Simulator Coordination
Maria Nathalie Risso
Competition Design
Jonathan Sprinkle
Project LeaderAbout the challenge
This challenge is supported by the project "Cyber-Physical Systems Virtual Organization: Active Resources", NSF 1521617, and by MathWorks.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or MathWorks.
Contact Us
If you have a question about eligibility that is not covered on the site, ask it here. All technical questions are addressed on the CPS VO
Challenge question?
Ask it on the CPS VO
Organizing Institution
CSL Group
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721-0104