Oct 29 2009

OCT 29, 2009: Robotic Research was notified today by the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) in Australia that its team was selected to compete in MAGIC 2010.

The Multi-Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge (MAGIC 2010) is jointly sponsored by the Australian and US Departments of Defence to attract innovative proposals from worldwide research organizations to develop next-generation fully autonomous ground vehicle systems that can be deployed effectively in military operations and civilian emergency situations.

What’s the challenge?
The challenge requires competitors to submit proposals demonstrating the use of multi-vehicle robotic teams that can execute an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission in a dynamic urban environment.
Shortlisted competitors will need to field cooperatives of unmanned vehicle prototypes with the ability to autonomously and dynamically coordinate, plan and carry out tasks against changing priorities.
To complete the challenge competitors must: (i) accurately and completely explore and map the challenge area; (ii) correctly locate, classify and recognize all simulated threats; and (iii) complete all phases within 3.5 hours. The challenge event will be conducted in Australia during November 2010.

Reconnaissance and Autonomy for Small Robots (RASR) Team

Robotic Research, LLC (TEAM LEAD)

General Dynamics Robotic Systems

QinetiQ-NA (Parent company of Foster Miller and Applied Perception)

Del Services

Cedar Creek Defense

University of Michigan

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Carnegie Mellon University: The Robotics Institute