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Lunar Robotics Challenge

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Last week, the first Lunar Robotics Challenge took place on the vulcanic island of Teneriffa. The aim of that contest hosted by the European Space Agency (ESA) was to retrieve soil samples from a lunar-style terrestrial crater with a self-constructed robot rover in preparation for an eventual deployment on the Moon.

Eight teams from European universities took part; although no LEGO® MINDSTORMS NXT robot was amongst the contestants, this event nevertheless is a nice showcase also for NXT robot builders on the challenges and actual problems a robot has to face even when trying to cope with such a task that looks simple at a first glance.

By the way, a German team from Bremen University finally won the contest.
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