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Try Your Programming Skills In Space: DARPA Satellite Programming Challenge
First time accepted submitter null action writes "Want to have your code run on a satellite in space? Take a look at this. MIT Space Systems Laboratory and TopCoder are hosting a DARPA competition to create the best algorithm for capturing a randomly tumbling space object. Contestants in the Zero Robotics Autonomous Space Capture Challenge will compete in online simulations, and four finalists will have their algorithms tested aboard the International Space Station on small satellites called SPHERES. 'In this challenge, you have no advance knowledge of how it will be rotating. We're pushing the limits of what we can do with SPHERES and we hope to break new ground with this challenge,' said Jake Katz of MIT."
So they just hope someone will come and make a very complex program for almost nothing (up to $1000 travel reimbursment if you go to MIT to see the test).
This is Dr Hofstadter, Dr Cooper, Dr Koothrappali, and this is Howard Wolowitz. So NASA wants us to be Howards?
I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
Creating a legible website appears to be an impossible task for DARPA...let alone capturing a randomly tumbling object in space.
As close SCI-FI loving hackers can become astronauts.
My -1 Troll is actually a +1 funny. And my -1 flame is actually a +1 insightfull.
Is there a SPHEREs emulator that you can plug the C code into? I tried reading some of the links and they included tutorials in basic math, physics, and programming, details on the API, and suggestions to download MS Visual C++ Express for coding in C, but I couldn't find where I would plug C code into running this in an emulated or simulated environment for testing. With all of these basics outlined I would have figured there would be an executable or library somewhere to download.
A libertarian shat on my carpet once. Claimed the free market would sort it out. -Ford Prefect(8777)
If I hadn't read TFA, I'd think the goal was to capture the Zero Robotics project lead using his facial hardware. Good grief man.
Video:
http://www.zerorobotics.org/web/zero-robotics/home-public
If you are insulted I need to remind you Sheldon, that it's all in good fun.
(If at first you don't succeed, do it different next time!)
Fortunately I got a head start when I "acquired" the space station control codes....
"create the best algorithm for capturing a randomly tumbling space object"
should read:
"create the best algorithm for capturing a randomly tumbling non-U.S.A. satellites" ;
A.K.A. THEFT !
Yours In Beijing,
Kilgore Trout, Cosmonaut
Given that their prize-winners get to have their programs run on a real, live, satellite for field tests in space, I'd say the bragging rights and "cool" factor would be enough for a lot of people.
They're looking for a quick way to grab those tumbling meteors before they hit the planet? Now that's a conspiracy theory.
"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes" - Winston Churchill
I'll be honest, this whole thing looks like a mess.
A team composed of 5 or more [highschool or college] students
At least one mentor affiliated with the school or program to supervise the team
At least one mentor with programming experience to guide the students
At least two computers with internet access and the Adobe Flash plugin
Available time to meet either during or after school, as organized by the primary mentor
I doubt many if any at all from slashdot will register to do this.
http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
have the ISS match the velocity of the AWOL satellite and simply crash into it.... The satellite will merge with the ISS therefore catching it!!
We just need to rebuild the ISS after it captures CXZ-11024 (chinese spy satellite)
This is just an excuse by the gaming company to get somebody else to write Tetris 3D without paying them.
Table-ized A.I.
You're bored aren't you?
I would be too if I spent all my time in my mom's basement. In fact, spending all my time in your moms bed, I'm quite bored.
Most of the text on the main page refers to the high school robotics program this is based off of. You do not need to be affiliated with a school to participate in the new challenge.
Polhode motion explained: here.
A solid object in space (not necessarily a sphere) has three principal axes of rotation. Call them x, y and z. x is the short axis, which is where the other two axes' energy will redistribute (eventually). The trick is to figure out from observation of fixed points on the surface of the object, where this axis extends from. It is at these two points, commonly known as the North and South Poles, where a grab could be made - at any time. The other two axes don't even have to be stabilised at this point (in fact, the middle axis (y) will always be unstable). The long axis, z, has the smallest moment of inertia hence will eventually spin itself out, the angular momentum distributing (nominally) to the other two axes. Absent outside influences such as friction, this is an inevitability.
A famous example is Earth itself. Some of us are aware it has a primary rotation period about its x axis (the shortest axis, North to South), of 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds (relative to a distant fixed point in space). It also has several other minor rotational anomalies, the most important of which being the precession of the Poles, describing a circle 46.8 degrees in diameter over 25,700-odd years.
Operation Guillotine is in effect.
FTA:
The algorithm must enable a satellite to accomplish a feat that’s very difficult to do autonomously: capture a space object that’s tumbling, spinning or moving in the opposite direction.
So you shoot a sticky mass attached to a tether at the tumbling satellite/mass/whatever, let it wrap around a couple of times, then slowly start increasing tension on the line. Just like catching a fish. You could do that entirely mechanically, including attitude control of the capture satellite, especially if the mass of the target "spinner" is known.
I fail to see how that requires an algorithm or much programming at all, really. Follow the KISS principle.
Given:
weight/ mass; speed; x, y, z, T axes; known point on retrieving satellite (reinforced)
approach object to retrieve, touch with known point, putting satellite into uncontrolled spin. recover from spin recording all data to regain initial position as well as energy imparted to object to retrieve. analyze data and search for plane of greatest energy. touch again. continue to touch object to retrieve, transferring energy to satellite for dissipation. Conservation of momentum. FTFY
The mind conceives, the body achieves, the spirit manifests.
Mess? Perhaps you could have chosen a different word? Government agency promoting learning of math, physics, programming, etc... with the incentive that your code might actually run on machines in space? That seems like US government actually doing something good for once instead of making a mess of things.
Don't complain about syntax, grammar, or spelling. There is no.hell like input on android.