University teams at both the graduate and undergraduate levels are eligible to compete, and each team includes a faculty advisor. Teams must submit a Project Plan, via electronic upload, by the December 9, 2011 deadline. The RASC-AL Robo-Ops Steering Committee will review each team's project plan and announce the qualifying teams by December 19, 2011. 

Up to 8 qualifying teams will be selected to receive a stipend to purchase materials and travel to the 2012 RASC-AL Robo-Ops Competition in Houston, where the rovers will compete on a planetary analog environment under the supervision of NASA judges. Up to three members of the team (plus the faculty advisor) will travel to JSC for the on-site testing. The remaining team members will stay behind at the local university to conduct "mission control" tasks. The prototype rovers will be tele-operated by the university team and must negotiate a series of obstacles while accomplishing relevant tasks in the quickest time. Cameras will allow the transmission of the competition back to the home universities and to the general public.

NASA seeks to engage the public in its missions and research. Supporting that goal, the RASC-AL Exploration Robo-Ops competition includes a unique public engagement component to the challenge. Teams will be required to do an education and outreach activity for their rover that demonstrates participatory exploration approaches for future NASA missions. This includes Internet-based social media sites and other creative outreach approaches. Participatory exploration activities should “bring the public” along throughout the project, including the final competition aspects. It is incumbent on the team to find compelling means to engage the public, and to consider partnering with other organizations to help build awareness for RASC-AL Robo Ops, their team and rover.

Teams participating in the competition will be required to submit a written final report, build an actual rover, and demonstrate the rover's capabilities during the 2012 RASC-AL Robo-Ops Competition. Scoring is based on the ability to perform the tasks, adherence to requirements, time, and the inclusion of an education and public outreach (E/PO) activity.

Winning teams will receive prizes, to include cash and/or travel to the annual NASA Desert RATS analog test site in Arizona.