Emirates Mars Mission, the UAE Space Agency’s uncrewed space exploration mission to Mars, has launched a nationwide competition to help youngsters build space-related couriers, said the authorities in a statement on Monday, September 13.
The competition, called Planet X, has been launched in partnership with the Dubai Airshow 2021.
It is apparently designed to “inspire a new generation of talent to build careers in the fast-growing global space and aviation industries.”
The multidisciplinary contest is expected to create opportunities for young Emiratis interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
As part of the two-month contest, they will have to build, code, and design robots for deep-space exploration.
The challenge will kick off with a prequalification round in September. To enter Planet X, students must complete this pre-qualification challenge.
Applicants are required to design an aircraft capable of carrying out missions on Mars, answer technical details about how it would work in practice, and compete in a live coding challenge that will take place in September.
This will be followed by a week of training in October.
The most successful 40 students will be invited to receive rigorous training and mentorship from engineers and technologists.
They will learn how to build, design and develop state-of-the-art robots and 3D-printed aircrafts alongside the team that successfully sent the Hope Probe to Mars.
The main challenge will take place during the five-day Dubai Airshow 2021, which will start on November 14.
There, high school and university students will be required to create ground and aerial robots for reconnaissance missions on Planet X.
To complete their mission successfully, students will have to complete a number of complex challenges: First, build an unnamed ground vehicle to study the surface of Planet X and seek out a specific location to collect samples using Lego Mindstorms EV3, a third-generation robotics kit.
There will be different programming complexities for high-school and university students. All robots will have to feature built-in sensors and actuators. Student teams will also have five minutes to complete a simulated mission without any support or assistance.
The second challenge will involve designing an unmanned aerial vehicle to glide above the Martian planet for reconnaissance missions. Students will be required to use CAD Fusion 360 modelling software to design and 3D print the aircraft, as well as share a technical presentation on its design.
Up to AED50,000 (around $13,6000) is available for the winning team.
Here is an abridged itinerary:
