Skyping from NERVE to JSC

The mission control team at the NERVE Center got a virtual tour of the JSC Rock Yard via Skype. Here are some screenshots:

Setting up under the tent

We have arrived at the JSC Rock Yard

Day 1 Schedule

Good morning everyone.  Today will be our first day at JSC with the Rover Hawk, where we'll have our first chance to try our robot on the JSC Rock Yard.  The competition's schedule today is for practicing with our rovers and to make any necessary tweaks to the robots.  Our team members back in Lowell at the NERVE Center will be driving the robot, just as they will be during the competition.

This afternoon, from 3-3:30 CDT, the rovers will be weighed.  According to the competition rules, the lightest robot picks their competition time slot first, followed by the other rovers in order of increasing weight:

The day of the competition, on-site team members are not allowed to communicate any information about the course or the other teams’ performance to their off-site team members. However, teams going later in the day can watch the camera feed from the other team’s rovers. This affords an advantage to teams that go later in the competition. NASA and NIA have developed a method for teams to compete for time slots they desire – based on the weight of Team rovers. A 45-kg mass limit has been established for each rover. Because NASA has an interest in reducing mass wherever possible, we will allow the lightest rover to select the time slot of their choice. The second lightest will have second choice, and so forth.

Throughout our design process, our goal was to have as light of a robot as possible.  We eagerly anticipate finding out how we did relative to the other teams.

A note to our robot

Dear Rover,

Just because we were excited to make a trip to Fry's, three trips is excessive for one day.  Fewer trips tomorrow, please.

Holly

Soon all robots will demand water views

Our hotel is at the edge of Clear Lake. The rover has a great view as it is being reassembled after our flight to Houston. 

Having passed Fry's on the drive from the airport, we have found reasons to go there tonight. 

Tomorrow morning, we will take the rover over to JSC.  Can't wait to try the Rover Hawk on the JSC Rock Yard!

Headed for Houston

Three Pelican cases, ready to check on our 6am flight to Houston.  The one pictured holds the main body of the rover.