National Underwater Robotics Challenge

Mission Theme:

 

Prehistoric Plunge

The year is 2035, and the world of research has unlocked a groundbreaking tool—time travel! With the ability to journey into the past, researchers can now study and learn from history to prepare humanity for the challenges of the future.

However, with such great power comes great responsibility. To protect the timeline, the Temporal Enforcement Agency (TEA) enforces strict rules and regulations to prevent any disruptions that could put us all at risk.

Our story begins here…

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You arrive at your office at the Center for Temporal Remotely Operated Vehicles. Your secretary hands you a manila envelope stamped TOP SECRET. You open it, revealing a cover letter:

 

From the desk of Commander Victor Jimenez, Head of the Temporal Enforcement Agency (TEA)

The Sonoran Temporal Research Portal and all related time-travel assets are now under the jurisdiction of the Temporal Enforcement Agency due to a temporal violation that occurred last Friday at approximately 22:56. The Allegany research team lost connection with their remotely operated vehicle (ROV) due to an unknown power loss. Because of the 30-minute time limit for the temporal window, the Allegany team could not retrieve their ROV. The team had sent an ROV back in time 66 million years ago to the Cretaceous era. The ROV is currently at the base of a volcano that is on the verge of an eruption. Pyroclastic coverage of the ROV is imminent.

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Due to this violation of Temporal Statute 64.13 (leaving behind technology), your team is now assigned to the Sonoran Temporal Research Portal, located at the ASU Polytechnic Temporal Institute. Your mission window opens in June of 2035. Your primary objectives are to recover the data recorders from the lost ROV and complete the research tasks left unfinished by the previous team.

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You are also tasked with ensuring that any remaining technology is either returned or completely destroyed, leaving no evidence behind. Given the timing of the volcano’s eruption, your mission will include a momentary cold fusion device to grant you an additional five minutes. The abandoned ROV is expected to be destroyed by the eruption, so full retrieval is unnecessary.

 

RESEARCH STATEMENT

Purpose:

• Collect biological samples and tag specimens for critical research

• Delay volcanic activity to provide the necessary time to complete mission tasks

• Retrieve the lost ROV’s data recorders

 

Detailed Requirements:

• Collect and bring back three different marine dinosaur eggs from three species within the Mosasauridae family: Mosasaurus, Prognathodon, and Tylosaurus.

• Capture and retrieve three symbiotic jellyfish for further study.

• Launch a subcutaneous biodegradable tracking torpedo to gather live-stream data on mosasaur biological readings and migratory patterns.

• Measure the temperature of magma in the volcanic vent for geological research.

• Use the Momentary Cold Fusion Device (MCFD) to control volcanic activity, allowing five additional minutes to rescue the ROV’s data recorders and complete the mission.

• Locate, extract, and retrieve the lost ROV’s data recorders to analyze the collected data and diagnose the ROV’s power failure.

• Return within the designated temporal window (approximately 20 minutes from portal opening).

 

I wish you the best of luck in this crucial mission and look forward to your safe return and report. Please don’t make us hire someone else to come save your robot.

Sincerely,
Victor Jimenez
Commander, Temporal Enforcement Agency

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Physical requirement Notes:

• For Eggs, you must have some kind of capture mechanism like net, claw, stick or grabber

• For jellyfish, you must have some kind of capture mechanism like net, claw, stick or grabber

• For tracker, you must have some kind of torpedo, speargun type launching mechanism. (You must provide your own torpedo) The dinosaur will be ferrous and the torpedo should be able to stick to the dinosaur without damaging it or the environment. You must be able to shoot from a distance of 3 meters

• For volcano temperature measurement, you need some kind of thermometer, (You will provide your own thermometer)

• For cold fusion device,you  must have some kind of capture mechanism like a claw, stick or grabber. (You will be provided with the cold fusion device)

• For retrieving data recorders, you must have some kind of rotating mechanism to turn a knob to open the data recorder panel and must have some kind of capture mechanism like, claw, stick or grabber. (Data recorder is slightly positive so it will float to the surface)