PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
June 2015
433
PROFESSIONAL
INSIGHT
Are YOU up for the Challenge?
...WE are!
How does it work?
Challenges are made possible due to the dedication
and kindness of the many sponsors, mentors, judges,
educators, military personnel and volunteers. The
generosity of these individuals, businesses and companies
make it possible for us to inspire and challenge the next
generation in STEM.
How can someone get involved?
Anyone can become a Challenge Sponsor through
financial support or become a Challenge Volunteer by
donating time to the program. For more information
and to find out how you can help contact Penny Ward,
Program Manager, The Pennsylvania State University
Electro-Optics Center, 222 Northpointe Boulevard,
Freeport, PA 16229 (724) 295-7000, ext. 7135 or pward@
eoc.psu.edu.
Sea Challenge
Underwater manned ex-
ploration is limited by
the dangers of exposing
humans to extreme pres-
sure and temperature. In
this challenge, students
develop a submersible to
search an ancient ship
wreckage for artifacts
that will be placed into
a museum. They must
be able to discover and
identify objects that are
located on the sea floor
and pick them up, then
place them into a vessel.
There is no direct view-
ing of the tank during
the run, cameras and
sensors are used to com-
plete the mission.
Air Challenge
There are a number of contained forest fires that require
precise, aerial water drops due to their remote location.
The exact location of these fires is not known, so a pilot
must detect the correct location for the drop, and then
carefully target the location with water drop. Unlike a
manned aircraft, which has an experienced pilot, the un-
manned aircraft must carry its own sensors to detect the
fire, and a method to remotely actuate the payload to drop
the water. The cameras that are used to detect the fire,
may also be used to determine the location of firefighters,
fire trucks or structures. The team is unable to see the
course during the run, cameras and sensors are used to
complete the mission.
Land Challenge
Ground robots are becoming increasingly more sophisti-
cated and utilized in multiple different types of applica-
tions including emergency situations. This application of
the technology keeps first responders out of harm’s way,
but still provides a critical link to injured or stranded peo-
ple. In this challenge, there are people trapped in a city
building after an earthquake. The path to the building is
deemed unsafe because of fear the structure will collapse.
The team must deliver supplies to the trapped people and
remove hazardous materials and obstacles that are pre-
venting rescue personnel from safely entering the struc-
ture. The team is unable to see the course during the run,
cameras and sensors are used to complete this mission.
