<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Hello,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>This is a final reminder that the deadline to apply for qualification for the 2014 Kinect mobile robot navigation challenge to be held at IROS 2014 in Chicago, USA, is by the end of June 15<sup>th</sup>, this Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>If you are considering participating, now is the time to send your brief application to <a href="mailto:roboinfo@microsoft.com">roboinfo@microsoft.com</a> for consideration in the contest – just include your name, a description of your organizational affiliation and team (e.g. research lab group), and a brief description of what kind of navigation solution you intend to create or use for the contest, and description of any past work you or your group have done related to mobile robot navigation using Kinect or similar sensing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>For more details about the challenge, rules and restrictions, and full instructions on how to enter, see the contest web page at <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/events/robotnavigationcontest/info.aspx">http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/events/robotnavigationcontest/info.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>The grand prize is $ 5,000 USD and one Microsoft Kinect One for Windows Developer Kit.<br>Nine second prizes, a Microsoft Kinect One for Windows Developer Kit, will also be awarded.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>This contest will show off the state of the art of autonomous navigation in realistic and dynamic unstructured environments. Autonomous navigation in static and controlled environments is a mostly solved problem, however, in this contest, the environment will be populated with realistic items that are known to challenge typical navigation sensors and systems, such as narrow chair and table legs and uneven surfaces. It will also feature moving people and furniture. There may be other surprises as well. Successful navigation will require state of the art mapping and autonomous navigation using a real robot and sensors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Winners will be chosen based on time and accuracy of navigation to specific points within the contest environment, and prizes awarded to winning contestants (if eligible).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>See the contest details and official rules for more information on prizes and eligibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>We hope you will consider entering!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Please contact me or <a href="mailto:roboinfo@microsoft.com">roboinfo@microsoft.com</a> if you have any questions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Thanks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Reed<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>