Below are questions we've received regarding the rules and the competition. Just like the rulebook, this information is undergoing modification and will remain a draft until the rules are finalized.

Will GPS be allowed?

Yes

Will there be live viewing?

Yes, but on a limited basis. There is considerable prize money on the table, and we do not want any unfair 3rd-person data making its way back to your mission control center.

Will all the teams use the same terrain?

As much as we can manage it, yes. There will be some terrain deterioration. If we end up using more than one arena, scouting and assembly missions will use the same one.

Will international teams be allowed?

In all Centennial Challenges competitions, we follow the DARPA lead in requiring that the leader of the team be a US person or US entity, and require advanced notification of non-US participants.

When do the challenges attempt begin?

00:00 GMT

Can the robots talk to each other?

Yes they can - communication on Mars is up to you. Only the Mars-Earth link is handicapped.

Can the "brains" of the rover remain on the lander?

Yes - this will require more on-Mars communication, but can help you build better rovers.

Can the lander have sensors?

Yes.

Why is the storage tank so heavy and bulky?

This is done on purpose to encourage multi-robot solutions. We do not want the winner to have built a single super-robot that circumvents the intent of the competition.