Zero Robotics is an international high school programming competition where students control robotic SPHERES (Synchronised Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites) aboard the International Space Station . Each year teams of students work to produce code capable of performing in a game that can be deployed on the SPHERES. This game generally contains elements such as docking with objects, moving objects, and destroying targets within a bounded area while monitoring fuel usage.
66-597: Gregory Errol Chamitoff (born 6 August 1962) is a Canadian-born American engineer and former NASA astronaut . He has been to space twice, spending 6 months aboard the ISS across Expedition 17 and 18 in 2008, and another 15 days as part of STS-134 in 2011. STS-134 was the last of Space Shuttle Endeavour which delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and completed the US Orbital Segment . Chamitoff
132-458: A 2014 study. [REDACTED] Media related to Engineers at Wikimedia Commons Zero Robotics Initial stages of the competition occur online (with virtual SPHERES) with free team registration in the United States , Australia and for ESA member countries and limited registration for international teams. Teams are traditionally monitored by adult mentors and code submitted through
198-612: A BS degree in engineering accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) with no exceptions, about two thirds of the states accept BS degrees in engineering technology accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET to become licensed as professional engineers . Each state has different requirements on years of experience to take
264-553: A P.Eng. designation. In the United States, the practice of professional engineering is highly regulated and the title "professional engineer" is legally protected, meaning that it is unlawful to use it to offer engineering services to the public unless permission, certification or other official endorsement is specifically granted by that state through a professional engineering license. Certain Spanish-speaking countries follow
330-594: A competition that emphasised building science, technology, engineering, and maths skills with a component of cooperation between schools and nations. Its inaugural competition was held in 2009, expansion to the entire US in 2010 and internationally in 2013. It currently includes schools from the US, Russia , ESA affiliated states and Australia. The Zero Robotics competition is divided into two types of tournaments. Additionally some countries, notably Australia and Italy , choose to hold preliminary competitions to fit better into
396-668: A doctorate would use the pre-nominal title "Doctor". In the UK, the practice of engineering is not a regulated profession but control of the titles of chartered engineer (CEng) and incorporated engineer (IEng) is regulated. These titles are protected by law and are subject to strict requirements defined by the Engineering Council . The title CEng is in use in nations of the Commonwealth of Nations that follow or adapt British professional codes. Many skilled and semi-skilled tradespeople in
462-440: A firm that requires engineers on a continuous basis, or may belong to an engineering firm that provides engineering consulting services to other firms. When developing a product, engineers typically work in interdisciplinary teams. For example, when building robots an engineering team will typically have at least three types of engineers. A mechanical engineer would design the body and actuators. An electrical engineer would design
528-426: A formal engineering qualification of at least a bachelor's degree are permitted to describe themselves as an engineer. So much so that people holding such qualifications are entitled to use the pre-nominal title of " Ingegnere " (or " Ingegnera " if female - in both cases often abbreviated to "Ing.") in lieu of "Signore", "Signorina" or "Signora" (Mr, Miss and Mrs respectively) in the same manner as someone holding
594-456: A four-year bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline , or in some jurisdictions, a master's degree in an engineering discipline plus four to six years of peer-reviewed professional practice (culminating in a project report or thesis) and passage of engineering board examinations. The work of engineers forms the link between scientific discoveries and their subsequent applications to human and business needs and quality of life. In 1961,
660-502: A large sum and jailed, as it is usually reserved for graduates of French engineering grandes écoles . Engineering schools which were created during the French revolution have a special reputation among the French people, as they helped to make the transition from a mostly agricultural country of late 18th century to the industrially developed France of the 19th century. A great part of 19th-century France's economic wealth and industrial prowess
726-413: A multi-national corporation. Agricultural machinery such as tractors, combine harvesters , forage harvesters . Agricultural technology incorporates such things as robotics and autonomous vehicles . Engineers have obligations to the public, their clients, employers, and the profession. Many engineering societies have established codes of practice and codes of ethics to guide members and inform
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#1732858960635792-744: A research group in the development of autonomous flight vehicles, and taught courses in flight dynamics and control. He has published numerous papers on aircraft and spacecraft guidance and control, trajectory optimization , and Mars mission design. In 1995, Chamitoff joined the Motion Control Systems Group in the Mission Operations Directorate at the Johnson Space Center , where he developed software applications for spacecraft attitude control monitoring, prediction, analysis, and maneuver optimization. Selected by NASA for
858-546: A ring made of iron or stainless steel that is worn on the little finger of the dominant hand. This tradition began in 1925 in Canada with The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer , where the ring serves as a symbol and reminder of the engineer's obligations to the engineering profession. In 1972, the practice was adopted by several colleges in the United States including members of the Order of
924-524: A worldwide basis, assimilating such information , and applying it independently. He/she is thus placed in a position to make contributions to the development of engineering science or its applications. His/her education and training will have been such that he/she will have acquired a broad and general appreciation of the engineering sciences as well as thorough insight into the special features of his/her own branch. In due time he/she will be able to give authoritative technical advice and assume responsibility for
990-431: Is applied physics . Engineers also may specialize in one industry, such as motor vehicles, or in one type of technology, such as turbines or semiconductor materials. Several recent studies have investigated how engineers spend their time; that is, the work tasks they perform and how their time is distributed among these. Research suggests that there are several key themes present in engineers' work: technical work (i.e.,
1056-695: Is a certified divemaster and instrument rated pilot. Chamitoff also enjoys chess and has played games with people on earth while living in the ISS. [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Engineer Engineers , as practitioners of engineering , are professionals who invent , design , analyze, build and test machines , complex systems , structures , gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering
1122-446: Is a regulated profession whose practice and practitioners are licensed and governed by law. Licensed professional engineers are referred to as P.Eng. Many Canadian engineers wear an Iron Ring . In all Canadian provinces, the title "Professional Engineer" is protected by law and any non-licensed individual or company using the title is committing a legal offence and is subject to fines and restraining orders. Contrary to insistence from
1188-460: Is actually focused on a particular discipline; candidates for licensure typically choose the category of examination which comes closest to their respective expertise. In the United States, an "industrial exemption" allows businesses to employ employees and call them an "engineer", as long as such individuals are under the direct supervision and control of the business entity and function internally related to manufacturing (manufactured parts) related to
1254-493: Is also an information-intensive field, with research finding that engineers spend 55.8% of their time engaged in various different information behaviors, including 14.2% actively information from other people (7.8%) and information repositories such as documents and databases (6.4%). The time engineers spend engaged in such activities is also reflected in the competencies required in engineering roles. In addition to engineers' core technical competence, research has also demonstrated
1320-424: Is given to people with a (master's) degree in chemistry, technology or economics for historical and traditional reasons. In Greece, the academic title of "Diploma Engineer" is awarded after completion of the five-year engineering study course and the title of "Certified Engineer" is awarded after completion of the four-year course of engineering studies at a Technological Educational Institute (TEI). The definition of
1386-591: Is indicated with the use of post-nominal letters ; PE or P.Eng. These are common in North America, as is European engineer (EUR ING) in Europe. In the United States, engineering is a regulated profession whose practice and practitioners are licensed and governed by law. Licensure is generally attainable through combination of education, pre-examination ( Fundamentals of Engineering exam ), examination (professional engineering exam), and engineering experience (typically in
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#17328589606351452-525: Is limited to people who hold an engineering degree, have passed a professional qualification examination ( Esame di Stato ) and are enrolled in the register of the local branch of National Associations of Engineers (a public body). In Portugal, professional engineer titles and accredited engineering degrees are regulated and certified by the Ordem dos Engenheiros . In the Czech Republic, the title "engineer" (Ing.)
1518-538: The MIT website. Finalists compete in a live championship aboard the ISS . An astronaut conducts the final competition while communicating to teams through a live feed. The Zero Robotics competition was created by NASA Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff when he was working with the SPHERES and realised that the coding interface would be suitable for high school students. Drawing inspiration from FIRST Robotics , Zero Robotics became
1584-506: The Association for Professional Engineers and Geoscientists ( APEGBC ) in order to become a Professional Engineer and be granted the professional designation of P.Eng allowing one to practice engineering. In Continental Europe , Latin America, Turkey, and elsewhere the title is limited by law to people with an engineering degree and the use of the title by others is illegal. In Italy, the title
1650-571: The Astronaut Class of 1998, Chamitoff started training in August 1998 and qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist in 2000. He worked in the Space Station Robotics branch, was lead CAPCOM for ISS Expedition 9 , acted as crew support astronaut for ISS Expedition 6 , and helped develop onboard procedures and displays for Space Station system operations. In July 2002, Chamitoff
1716-598: The Conference of Engineering Societies of Western Europe and the United States of America defined " professional engineer " as follows: A professional engineer is competent by virtue of his/her fundamental education and training to apply the scientific method and outlook to the analysis and solution of engineering problems. He/she is able to assume personal responsibility for the development and application of engineering science and knowledge , notably in research, design, construction, manufacturing, superintending, managing, and in
1782-511: The Engineer . Most engineering programs involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty, along with courses in both mathematics and the physical and life sciences. Many programs also include courses in general engineering and applied accounting. A design course, often accompanied by a computer or laboratory class or both, is part of the curriculum of most programs. Often, general courses not directly related to engineering, such as those in
1848-487: The Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Professional Engineering (PE) exams. A few states require a graduate MS in engineering to sit for the exams as further learning. After seven years of working after graduation, two years of responsibility for significant engineering work, continuous professional development, some highly qualified PEs are able to become International Professional Engineers Int(PE). These engineers must meet
1914-574: The General Certificate of Secondary Education ( Arabic : الثانوية العامة al-Thānawiyyah al-`Āmmah ) – in the order of 97 or 98 per cent – and are thus considered (along with the colleges of medicine, natural science, and pharmacy) to be among the "pinnacle colleges" ( كليات القمة kullīyāt al-qimmah ). In the Philippines and Filipino communities overseas , engineers who are either Filipino or not, especially those who also profess other jobs at
1980-534: The Haby reform and a series of further reforms ( Modernization plans of French universities ), several engineering schools were created which can be accessed with relatively lower competition. Engineering positions in France are now shared between the ingénieurs diplomés graduating from engineering grandes écoles and the holders of a master's degree in science from public universities . In Italy, only people who hold
2046-546: The Italian convention of engineers using the pre-nominal title, in this case " ingeniero " (or " ingeniera " if female). Like in Italy, it is usually abbreviated to "Ing." In Spain this practice is not followed. The engineering profession enjoys high prestige in Spain, ranking close to medical doctors, scientists and professors, and above judges, journalists or entrepreneurs, according to
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2112-534: The Lawrence Hargrave Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Sydney , Australia. Chamitoff has received the following honors and awards: Chamitoff is married to Alison Chantal Caviness, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. They have two children. Chamitoff's recreational interests include scuba diving , backpacking , flying , skiing , racquetball , Aikido , juggling , magic and guitar . He
2178-631: The Professional Engineers Ontario ("PEO") and Engineers Canada, use of the title "Engineer" itself has been found by Canadian law to be acceptable by those not holding P.Eng. titles. The title of engineer is not exclusive to P.Eng titles. The title of Engineer is commonly held by " Software Engineer ", the Canadian Military as various ranks and positions, railway locomotive engineers , Stationary engineer and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME), all of which do not commonly hold
2244-457: The UK, including, for example, engineering technicians who service domestic appliances or telephone systems, call themselves engineers, and the term in that context is commonly used by the public. Proposals such as a 2015 petition to the UK parliament to legally protect the title "engineer" so that only professional engineers could use it have been unsuccessful (as of 2023 ) In Canada, engineering
2310-480: The United States, post-secondary degree programs in engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology . In many countries, engineering tasks such as the design of bridges, electric power plants, industrial equipment, machine design and chemical plants, must be approved by a licensed professional engineer. Most commonly titled professional engineer is a license to practice and
2376-655: The application of science to product development), social work (i.e., interactive communication between people), computer-based work and information behaviors. Among other more detailed findings, a 2012 work sampling study found that engineers spend 62.92% of their time engaged in technical work, 40.37% in social work, and 49.66% in computer-based work. Furthermore, there was considerable overlap between these different types of work, with engineers spending 24.96% of their time engaged in technical and social work, 37.97% in technical and non-social, 15.42% in non-technical and social, and 21.66% in non-technical and non-social. Engineering
2442-414: The area of 5+ years). Each state tests and licenses professional engineers. Currently, most states do not license by specific engineering discipline, but rather provide generalized licensure, and trust engineers to use professional judgment regarding their individual competencies; this is the favoured approach of the professional societies. Despite this, at least one of the examinations required by most states
2508-418: The business entity, or work internally within an exempt organization. Such person does not have the final authority to approve, or the ultimate responsibility for, engineering designs, plans, or specifications that are to be incorporated into fixed works, systems, or facilities on the property of others or made available to the public. These individuals are prohibited from offering engineering services directly to
2574-439: The causes of a process failure, and test output to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost required to complete projects . Supervisory engineers are responsible for major components or entire projects. Engineering analysis involves the application of scientific analytic principles and processes to reveal the properties and state of the system, device or mechanism under study. Engineering analysis proceeds by separating
2640-566: The critical nature of their personal attributes, project management skills, and cognitive abilities to success in the role. There are many branches of engineering, each of which specializes in specific technologies and products. Typically, engineers will have deep knowledge in one area and basic knowledge in related areas. For example, mechanical engineering curricula typically include introductory courses in electrical engineering, computer science, materials science, metallurgy, mathematics, and software engineering. An engineer may either be hired for
2706-520: The deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope , designed flight control upgrades for the Space Shuttle autopilot, and worked on the attitude control system for Space Station Freedom. His doctoral thesis developed a new approach for robust intelligent flight control of hypersonic vehicles. From 1993 to 1995, Chamitoff was a visiting professor at the University of Sydney , Australia, where he led
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2772-650: The direction of important tasks in his/her branch. Engineers develop new technological solutions. During the engineering design process , the responsibilities of the engineer may include defining problems, conducting and narrowing research, analyzing criteria, finding and analyzing solutions, and making decisions. Much of an engineer's time is spent on researching, locating, applying, and transferring information. Indeed, research suggests engineers spend 56% of their time engaged in various information behaviours, including 14% actively searching for information. Engineers must weigh different design choices on their merits and choose
2838-463: The education of the engineer. His/her work is predominantly intellectual and varied and not of a routine mental or physical character. It requires the exercise of original thought and judgment and the ability to supervise the technical and administrative work of others. His/her education will have been such as to make him/her capable of closely and continuously following progress in his/her branch of engineering science by consulting newly published works on
2904-528: The efficiency of processes. Most engineers specialize in one or more engineering disciplines . Numerous specialties are recognized by professional societies, and each of the major branches of engineering has numerous subdivisions. Civil engineering, for example, includes structural engineering, along with transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, and materials engineering, including ceramic, metallurgical, and polymer engineering . Mechanical engineering cuts across most disciplines since its core essence
2970-438: The engineering design into the mechanisms of operation or failure, analyzing or estimating each component of the operation or failure mechanism in isolation, and recombining the components. They may analyze risk . Many engineers use computers to produce and analyze designs, to simulate and test how a machine, structure, or system operates, to generate specifications for parts, to monitor the quality of products, and to control
3036-564: The fact that the programs are autonomous in the sense that submitted code will last for the duration of the competition (and across multiple matches) and you can not control or modify their execution. Additionally there is a limit on the programmable memory of the SPHERES, limiting the available coding practices. Participants in Zero Robotics are encouraged to learn and/or improve their knowledge related to basic physics , since optimal algorithms require precise control over forces influencing
3102-703: The highest level of professional competencies and this is a peer-reviewed process. Once the IntPE title is awarded, the engineer can gain easier admission to national registers of a number of members jurisdictions for international practice. In Canada, engineering is a self-regulated profession. The profession in each province is governed by its own engineering association. For instance, in the Province of British Columbia an engineering graduate with four or more years of post graduate experience in an engineering-related field and passing exams in ethics and law will need to be registered by
3168-498: The limitations imposed by practicality, regulation, safety and cost. The word engineer ( Latin ingeniator , the origin of the Ir. in the title of engineer in countries like Belgium and The Netherlands) is derived from the Latin words ingeniare ("to contrive, devise") and ingenium ("cleverness"). The foundational qualifications of a licensed professional engineer typically include
3234-471: The power systems, sensors, electronics, embedded software in electronics, and control circuitry. Finally, a software engineer would develop the software that makes the robot behave properly. Engineers that aspire to management engage in further study in business administration, project management and organizational or business psychology. Often engineers move up the management hierarchy from managing projects, functional departments, divisions and eventually CEOs of
3300-449: The primary resources (fuel, energy charges, etc.) and complete the challenge within certain limits of time and space for writing code. The student's software must be able to control factors such as the speed of the satellite, the rotation, the direction of travel, and many others, to be able to find the perfect algorithm to achieve the purpose and meet the challenges in the shortest possible time than their opponents. The difficulty lies in
3366-432: The public at large. Each engineering discipline and professional society maintains a code of ethics, which the members pledge to uphold. Depending on their specializations, engineers may also be governed by specific statute, whistleblowing, product liability laws, and often the principles of business ethics . Some graduates of engineering programs in North America may be recognized by the iron ring or Engineer's Ring ,
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#17328589606353432-418: The public or other businesses, or engage in practice of engineering unless the business entity is registered with the state's board of engineering, and the practice is carried on or supervised directly only by engineers licensed to engage in the practice of engineering. In some instances, some positions, such as a "sanitation engineer", does not have any basis in engineering sciences. Although some states require
3498-632: The robots. Chamitoff served as a mission specialist on STS-134 , the penultimate Space Shuttle mission, during which he made two spacewalks , the last of which completed the construction of the ISS. Chamitoff is currently a Professor of Engineering Practice in the Aerospace Engineering Department at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas . He instructs senior design, human spaceflight operations, and dynamics and controls for aerospace vehicles. Chamitoff has also served as
3564-616: The same time, are addressed and introduced as Engineer , rather than Sir/Madam in speech or Mr./Mrs./Ms. ( G./Gng./Bb. in Filipino) before surnames. That word is used either in itself or before the given name or surname. As of 2022 , thirty two countries in Europe (including nearly all 27 countries of the EU) now recognise the title of "European Engineer" which permits the use of the pre-nominal title of "EUR ING" (always fully capitalised). Each country sets its own precise qualification requirement for
3630-476: The school year and/or filter the schools going onto the International Competition. Participants compete together to win a technically challenging game, motivated by a problem of current interest to DARPA , NASA and MIT. Depending on the challenge, students must program their satellites to complete certain objectives (to avoid obstacles, collect virtual objects, destroy targets, etc.) while preserving
3696-412: The social sciences or humanities, also are required. Accreditation is the process by which engineering programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. The Washington Accord serves as an international accreditation agreement for academic engineering degrees, recognizing the substantial equivalency in the standards set by many major national engineering bodies. In
3762-444: The solution that best matches the requirements and needs. Their crucial and unique task is to identify, understand, and interpret the constraints on a design in order to produce a successful result. Good problem solving skills are an important asset for engineers. Engineers apply techniques of engineering analysis in testing, production, or maintenance. Analytical engineers may supervise production in factories and elsewhere, determine
3828-410: The speed of the SPHERES. However, students report that "good results [can be obtained] by working exclusively through imposition of the satellite coordinates". Participants in the challenge Zero Robotics learn to program in either C / C++ , or MATLAB , or (in the middle school competition) Scratch . Within these languages there are different APIs to enforce the main parameters of the movements of
3894-505: The term "engineer" varies across countries and continents. In the Indian subcontinent , Russia, Middle East, Africa, and China, engineering is one of the most sought-after undergraduate courses, for which entrance examinations are highly competitive. In Egypt, the educational system makes engineering the second-most respected profession in the country (after medicine); engineering colleges at Egyptian universities require extremely high marks on
3960-501: The title of engineer is regulated by law. In France, the term ingénieur (engineer) is not a protected title and can be used by anyone who practices this profession. However, the title ingénieur diplomé (graduate engineer) is an official academic title that is protected by the government and is associated with the Diplôme d'Ingénieur , which is a renowned academic degree in France. Anyone misusing this title in France can be fined
4026-428: The use of the title (though they are all broadly equivalent). Holding the requisite qualification does not afford automatic entitlement. The title has to be applied for (and the appropriate fee paid). The holder is entitled to use the title in their passport. EUR INGs are allowed to describe themselves as professionally qualified engineers and practise as such in any of the 32 participating countries including those where
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#17328589606354092-614: Was a crew-member on the Aquarius undersea research habitat for 9 days as part of the NEEMO 3 mission (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations). He served as the backup Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer 2 and STS-117 / STS-120 Mission Specialist 5 for Clayton Anderson . Chamitoff served on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station. He launched as a mission specialist on board Space Shuttle mission STS-124 . He
4158-509: Was aboard the ISS at the beginning of Expedition 18 , Chamitoff and Garriott filmed the first magic show in space, and along with Yury Lonchakov , Michael Fincke and Richard Garriott , filmed a science-fiction movie made in space, Apogee of Fear . After conducting experiments with the SPHERES during his mission, he founded the Zero Robotics competition, where high school students program
4224-661: Was born 6 August 1962 in Montreal , Quebec, Canada. He was inspired to become an astronaut after watching the Apollo 11 Moon landing at the age of six. His education includes: As an undergraduate student at Cal Poly, Chamitoff taught lab courses in circuit design and worked summer internships at Four Phase Systems, Atari Computers, Northern Telecom, and IBM. He developed a self-guided robot for his undergraduate thesis project. While at MIT and Draper Labs (1985–1992), Chamitoff worked on several NASA projects. He performed stability analyses for
4290-402: Was created by engineers that have graduated from École Centrale Paris , École des Mines de Paris , École polytechnique or Télécom Paris . This was also the case after WWII when France had to be rebuilt. Before the "réforme René Haby " in the 1970s, it was very difficult to be admitted to such schools, and the French ingénieurs were commonly perceived as the nation's élite. However, after
4356-525: Was flight engineer 2 and science officer on Expedition 17 . He returned home as a mission specialist on STS-126 , completing a tour that lasted six months. As part of his personal allowance, Chamitoff brought the first bagels into space, 3 bags (18 sesame seed bagels ) of Fairmount Bagels with him, from his cousin's bagel bakery. He also bought a velcro chess set and started playing games against mission control, which got quite competitive. In 2008, Chamitoff voted from outer space. While Richard Garriott
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