FAQ

Field Robot Event 2024: Questions and Answers

2024/04/22

Competition

  1. Q: Can we use a tube or something similar with a camera mounted on top for tasks 4 and 5? A: The camera should have a max height of 80cm above ground level.
  2. Q: Can we use a swarm of field robots for the tasks in order to increase the working speed? A: No, only one robot per task is allowed.
  3. Q: Can we use an umbrella or something similar as a shield against sun and/or rain? A: Yes, an umbrella can be mounted on the robot.
  4. Q: Does the organising team provide internet access in the workshop area? A: Yes, WiFi will be available, but we cannot guarantee a stable bandwidth.
  5. Q: Spot-spraying vs. scattergun approach: How precise do we have to applicate in task 4? A: The application has to be visible/verifiably on the weed (i.e. flowers that serve as weed) by the jury members. See scoring in the rules file.
  6. Q: What obstacles do you use for task 3 & 4? A: The obstacles will be visible in laserscan data but the exact geometry will remain unknown until the competition.
  7. Q: Will there be moving obstacles, like human in task 3 & 4. A: No.
  8. Q: Can we use GPS? A: No.
  9. Q: What is the distance between the plants for the counting task? A: The distance will be at least 0,1 m but can be up to 0,5m.
  10. Q: Do we have to count left and right-side plants at the same time in task 2? A: No. We expect the results row by row and the field robots have to follow the same sequence as in task 1. You are allowed to count left and right to verify your results from the last row.
  11. Q: Is the time relevant in task2? A: Yes, if two teams have the same number of correct counted plants. The team that was faster will be ranged higher.
  12. Q: What will be the heights of the gras in task 3 & 4? A: The height of the grass will be approx. 0.05 m, depending on the environmental conditions.
  13. Q: Will there be some tags (i.e. AR-Tags) in the corners for calibration (rotation) in task 3 & 4? A: No.
  14. Q: Must the position of the weed in task 3 be absolute or relative (rotation problem)? A: We expect the position data to be relative with respect to the origin of the coordinate system of the grassland area. You can use the side fence to try to avoid rotation errors.
  15. Q: How many weeds can we expect to be present in the grassland area, can we expect around 10 weeds or is the number a lot higher or lower? A: the number of weeds is not fixed yet, but very likely it will not be 6. The number of the weeds will not be announced before the event.
  16. Q: The task description mentions that for task 3 and 4 there may be obstacles in the field. What are the dimensions (length, width and hight) that we can expect the obstacles to have? A: The sketch in the figure of the rules is not to scale. Please expect obstacles of different sizes (horizontal and vertical dimension).
  17. Q: Is the fence around the fields for task 3 and 4 continues or are there gaps between parts of the fence? A: We will try to close any gaps in the side fence, but please expect the side fence to be only as good as we can build it (depending on the material). It is very likely, that the side fence will be made from straw bales.
  18. Q: What should be the unit of the x and y? A: Please provide the data in m. We will use SI units.
  19. In the download it reads that task 2 is an extension of task 1. Does this mean that we have to follow the same driving pattern or are we allowed to drive a pattern of our own choice? A: To be discussed in the organising team.

Infrastructure

  1. Q: Will there be any internet access? A: Yes, we will provide WiFi.
  2. Q: Will you provide power to charge the batteries and for our computers? A: Yes, every team will have access to a power outlet with at least 3.000 W.

Accommodation and Food

  1. Q: What are the plans for the accomodation? There is space to put up tents in the vicinity of the event location. Please bring your own ones.