The Fourth Alpine Accident Robot Search and Rescue Contest 2018

Interview

The following videos show interviews with teams that completed missions in the 2018 Contest:

Team ArduPilot Japan

SkyLink

Team NEX

DJI認定ストア新宿/Y.D.S.pro shop

Result

The 2018 Contest has ended successfully.
Thank you to everyone who participated.

チームリストは添付のpdfをご参照ください

Mission #1

Oct. 10

No applicable teams

Oct. 11

DJI Store Shinjuku/Y.D.S. Pro Shop
SkyRanger Project “Team NEX”

Oct. 12

DJI Store Shinjuku/Y.D.S. Pro Shop
Seisa Kokusai High School Hachioji
Mission #2

Oct. 10

WorldLink & Company Co., Ltd

Team Tohoku JV

Oct. 11

WorldLink & Company Co., Ltd

DJI Store Shinjuku/Y.D.S. Pro Shop

Sky Photo Service

Team ArduPilot Japan (TAP-J)

Oct. 12

WorldLink & Company Co., Ltd

DJI Store Shinjuku/Y.D.S. Pro Shop

Team Tohoku JV

Sky Photo Service
Special Award

JTB Fighting Spirit Prize

Keio University Takeda Lab.

TechnoPro Design Company

Kamishihoro-cho Mayor’s Award

Nagano Prefecture Komagane Technical High School Mission Research Squad

Contest Report

Contest Report[PDF]

Goals

To offer practical examples of disaster support and thereby accelerate robot research in Japan
Spread the use of disaster support robots and systems throughout Japan

Experiment Content

Mission #1 Locate Missing Person

Locate a mannequin as a missing person and specify its location (longitude and latitude) and take a photograph of it.

Prize

3,000,000JPY

Divided among teams that completed the mission
Mission #2 Send Rescue Kit To Missing Person

Send a rescue kit (a 3kg box, assuming a transceiver and blankets in it which is prepared by the organizer) within a three meter radius of the mannequin.

Prize

2,000,000JPY

Divided among teams that completed the mission

Click here for detailed regulations[PDF]

Prize

Mission #1 Locate Missing Person
3,000,000JPY

Mission #2 Send Rescue Kit To Missing Person
2,000,000JPY

Dates

Oct. 10 (Weds.) – 13 (Sat.), 2018

Location

Forest owned by Kamishihoro-cho, Hokkaido

Schedule

●Deadline to apply to participate in the Contest: 12:00 noon, September 7, 2018
●Deadline to apply to visit the Contest: October 1, 2018
●Applications to borrow dummies and rescue kits will be taken from August 6, 2018
●Plan template will be available from August 7, 2018 (scheduled)
●Opening Ceremony: 3:00 p.m., October 10 (Weds.), 2018
●Closing Ceremony: 11:00 a.m., October 13 (Sat.), 2018

FAQ

About the missions
The Contest in general
Other

Will the dummy’s approximate geolocation for Mission #1: “Discover” be provided to teams?: No. Not even an approximate location will be provided for Mission #1: “Discover.” Your search should be based on the assumption that the dummy is located somewhere in the official search area.
Will we know the dummy’s clothing and color in advance?: Since the scenario is an accident in the mountains, it will be announced on the day of the Contest. You should assume it is typical mountain climbing clothing.
Is it prohibited to drop the rescue kit during Mission #2: “Reach?”: Yes. It is prohibited to drop any object within 30 meters of the dummy, but if, for example, you drop the rescue kit 30 meters away from the dummy and then drag it close to the dummy, that is OK.
If a rescue kit crashed into the dummy during a drop in Mission #2: “Reach,” how you would judge that?: Because the dummy basically represents a person, the team would be disqualified for that day if the rescue kit crashed into the dummy.
How will time and precision be reflected in the evaluation criteria of missions? For example, will points be added or deducted based on distance error?: As long as the results are within the precision described in the rules, there will be no further points added or deducted.

Do teams have to participate in all missions?: You do not have to participate in all missions. For example, it is OK to participate in Mission #1, “Discover,” only.
Are there any limits on the number of people on each team?: No. There are no limits on how many people may be on a team.
Can we use a glider or similar vehicle?: There are no restrictions on what kinds of vehicles you use.
What are the conditions under which humans can operate the robots?: The scenario is that you would be using robots deployed for a rescue from an actual alpine accident. So the operating methods you could use include not only automatic operation but also wired or wireless operation and using images to confirm the dummy victim. As for the operating place, you will operate robots from the designated place (near the starting point).
Will we be able to make physical contact with robots that are within the virtual fence?: Robots can be operated from the starting point, so you can do things like change batteries, but if a robot becomes unusable in the mountains, it can no longer be physically touched until it is recovered after the end of that day’s mission. The organizer will recover such robots.
How many GPS units/tags can a team get to put on their vehicles in case one is lost?: We can distribute as many as you need. As a general rule, teams must put GPS units and tags on all vehicles.
How many years of mountain climbing experience is the victim supposed to have?: Assume the victim has no more than 3 years of experience, with a total of no more than 10 climbs.
You said that “if any safety hazard, such as snow, is observed during the Contest Period, the Contest may be closed early, even if the Contest is still in progress,” but what specific numerical values do you mean?: For example, if a storm warning is issued, we may decide to close the Contest after discussion. Based on that day’s conditions, we would send a message to participants, by email for example.
Is there some maximum amount of rain or wind speed you will allow before you decide to suspend the Contest?: Yes, a wind speed of about 10 meters/second and about 30 mm of rain. Even at lower levels, the organizer may also decide to suspend the Contest if the situation is deemed dangerous.
I’d like to know more about the weather at the venue.: According to the Meteorological Agency, the average temperature in October at Kamishihoro-cho, Hokkaido was 8.1°C from 2013–2017. During the same period, average wind speed was 2.16 m/s and average maximum instantaneous wind speed was 19.14 m/s. For more detailed information, see the data from resources such as the Meteorological Agency.
Tell me some examples of a dangerous situation as defined by the organizer.: Operating drones in densely inhabited areas. Catching a drone by hand. Flying a drone with a rescue kit dangling from a long cable, etc.

Specifically, what kind of people are on the Japan Innovation Challenge 2018 Executive Committee? Are there existing robotics companies or universities on the committee?: The committee membership will include the sponsor companies and local government personnel. We are presently making adjustments to the committee.
Is it OK to temporarily set up a wireless antenna?: As long as it is in legal compliance, it is no problem.
Is there a place to repair robots that break?: There will be a power supply inside the tents. We are also offering a preparation facility in Kamishihoro-cho.
Are independently flying drones OK?: That’s no problem.
Will there be paths suitable for a rover-type robot to rescue the dummy?: The dummy will be placed at a different location every day. It will not necessarily be placed on a path. There are several paths within the search area that are wide enough for people to walk on, but there are no roads that cars can drive on.
Is it OK to leave when my team’s mission is done?: Yes, you do not have to continue participating in the Contest until the final day.
Is there likely to be a problem of interference because of frequency during the Contest?: Although it is conceivable that interference will happen during wireless use of drones, etc. at the Contest venue, each team should use a wireless system that considers interference and also consider using a band monitor to avoid interference. We hope that this event will lead to innovative ideas about the use of wireless systems. We have determined that it is impossible for us to set wireless system operating standards in advance for each team. Thank you for your understanding. It is fine if teams speak with each other onsite to coordinate their frequencies.
What models have teams used in the past?: Drones that have been used include the Phantom, Mavic, and Matrice models from DJI. Some teams have also entered with drones they built themselves. Other than drones, teams have used four-wheeled vehicles and a modified excavator.
Have there been any accidents in the Contest in the past, such as vehicles bumping into each other?: In 2016, some vehicles bumped into each other near the takeoff and landing area.