This year competition includes not only unmanned air vehicles but unmanned ground vehicles as well. The format of the competition will build on the success of the UAV competitions held in 2007, 2009 and 2011 and will keep expanding through the involvement of UGVs. There are two competitions running together at the same time and location – one for UAV entries and another for UGV entries. The intent is to eventually have the competition mature to the point where the UAVs and UGVs can interact autonomously to achieve the mission.
The basic mission for the students will be to operate in support of forest fire fighting personnel. UAVs will be asked to locate points of interest within a designated area surrounding a forest fire in the remote Canadian wilderness, while UGVs will be required to patrol a fire break to spot any area where the fire might have jumped the break. The competitions take place in two phases with a Phase I design report from each team due TBD and Phase II, operational demonstration, in May 2012. Teams will be graded on the quality and completeness of their design report and the results of the demonstrations – there will be separate prizes for each phase.
The purpose of the competition is to promote and develop Canadian expertise and experience in unmanned systems technologies at the university and college levels. Even small scale unmanned vehicles are complex systems requiring a well planned and executed design approach. In addition, safety considerations are important factors in this competition as in any other vehicle design project.
Eligibility: The competitors must be registered full time in a recognized Canadian university or college. Teams may be organized internally at the discretion of their respective members.
Team Composition: Teams may include graduate and undergraduate students and it is suggested that students from multiple years be encouraged to participate. Joint teams consisting of students from more than one institution are also permitted. For example a joint university-college team is allowed. All students must have been full time attendance at a Canadian college or university in fall 2011 or winter 2012. This competition is not open to commercial entities.
Team Size: There is no maximum or minimum team size.
Number of Teams: There is no restriction on the number of teams from any given institution. However, no individual student may be on more than one team and the submitted projects must be substantially different. This matter will be at the discretion of the Judges.
Application and Registration:
Interested teams should fill in the Competition_Registration_Form and send it by email to: competition@unmannedsystems.ca
To complete registration, each team is asked for a registration fee of $200. Payment can be made by cheque addressed to and sent to Unmanned Systems Canada or by credit card by contacting Wayne Crowe, Executive Director of Unmanned Systems Canada at 1.613.845-0145.
Upon completion of the registration completion, teams will have access to additional competition information and a forum on the web site where they can ask questions to the organizing committee.
Competition Website and Email: All relevant competition documents and information will be located on the competition website. Check the competition website regularly for updates.
Registration Deadline: 30 September 2011
(Note: Important Competition Information only available after full registration)
Paper Design Submission: TBA 2011
Flight Demonstration: May 2012
For more information contact: Charles Vidal, Student Competition Chairman, Unmanned Systems Canada, Mob: +1.514.679-9427, E-mail: charles.vidal@unmannedsystems.ca, website: www.unmannedsystems.ca