Be part of the innovation
Freelancer.com is collaborating with NASA once again to crowdsource talent to design innovative tools and technology as part of NASA Open Innovation Services 2 (NOIS2) along with other contractors.
Freelancer Presents
NASA
Challenges
NASA & Freelancer
Hundreds of completed contests
NASA and Freelancer started working together in 2015, and have already crowdsourced solutions from 3D tools for robotic astronauts to smartwatch mobile applications used for time tracking and important station updates. Keep an eye out for future challenges, as NASA and Freelancer continue to push the boundaries of human imagination and innovation.
Getting involved
A talent cloud
NASA's NOIS2 will aim to crowdsource innovation through a variety of projects. Whether it's using crowd-based challenges and contests, building teams of freelance experts from around the world or splitting up complex jobs into a series of smaller freelance projects, NASA is looking to tap into the cloud of human intelligence to find new solutions to space exploration.
When will it start?
New challenges, contests and projects are on their way, and NASA is looking for skilled participants from a variety of backgrounds. Check back regularly for new opportunities.
What was done?
From a robotic arm for the International Space Station, to tools for Robonaut R2, the humanoid robot who takes on the most dangerous tasks in space, NASA and Freelancer have already found incredible solutions to the most complex problems being faced by astronauts on the cutting edge of space exploration.
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Design the Gateway Program Graphic
Graphic created for the first permanent human spaceship in orbit around the Moon, known as the Gateway.
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Folding Concepts for Radiation Shielding
Develop a 3D folding concept for radiation shielding used to cover human habitation sections of spacecraft.
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Design a Utility Smartwatch App
Design a smartwatch app for astronauts for use in completing daily tasks on the International Space Station.
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EVA Grapple Hook
Build a 3D model of a grappling hook that's used to tether astronauts to a structure while performing extra-vehicular tasks.
Media
Past challenges completed here on Freelancer.com and upcoming projects to advance space exploration. More media will be added as challenges are completed, so check back soon!
Astrobee Challenges Series
UPDATE: This phase of the contest has now been closed. NASA will be selecting 1000 participants for the next phase shortly.
We are asking the Freelancer community to help NASA and researchers learn how the community can help in solution evaluation. We are going to use the original solutions the community developed for the original challenges but this time we will be asking the community to help evaluate the solutions in three ways:
- Novelty
- Feasibility
- Overall Quality
We are doing this to understand how the community can potentially help in the future to evaluate solutions provided for NASA engineering challenges.
If you are interested in helping with this, we will first need you to complete a registration survey. As part of that survey, you will be asked about your background, experience, and then complete a short 15 question quiz. This survey is to understand the level of knowledge you have relative to the solutions you will be evaluating. However, we are not just looking for people with experience or experts. We want a broad set of Freelancers with diversity across backgrounds, experience, and the skills test results. We encourage everyone to register.
After the registration process has completed a random set of Freelancers will be chosen to complete the evaluations of the solutions. We estimate that each selected evaluator will evaluate 10 solutions, and the evaluations should take you no more than 60-90 minutes. For this we will provide $25 USD.
Original Astrobee Challenges Series
NASA is designing a next generation robotic assistant to support astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). The assistant will fly around inside the ISS, perch on a wall-mounted handhold ("Handrail"), and orient a camera, as directed. NASA has already designed the free flyer part, called Astrobee, and had looked to the freelancer community for great solutions for an attachment and orientation arm.
Over the next several months, ~$25,000 USD will be awarded, spread over more than a dozen contests, with individual prizes ranging from $250 USD to $5000 USD. Each will ask for solutions to a particular (sometimes overlapping) piece of the attachment arm. Each contest has been defined to be solvable on its own, but you may choose to compete in as many contests as you wish. Winning solutions may be incorporated into the robotic arm design and used with Astrobee for years to come.
17 Astrobee Challenges Completed
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Design a Simple Deployment Mechanism
Ended on June 18, 2018
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Design an Attachment Mechanism
Ended on June 21, 2018
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Design a "Smart" Attachment Mechanism
Ended on July 2, 2018
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Design a "Smart" Positioning and Attachment Mechanism
Ended on July 16, 2018
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Design a Positioning Software Architecture
Ended on July 26, 2018
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Design a Mechanically Driven Clamp
Ended on August 6, 2018
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Design an Electrically Driven Clamp
Ended on August 13, 2018
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Design a "Smart" Coarse-positioning Arm
Ended on August 25, 2018
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Design a "Smart" Fine-Positioning Arm
Ended on September 5, 2018
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Design an Electro-Mechanical Arm
Ended on September 24, 2018
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Design a "Smart" Robotic Arm
Ended on October 5, 2018
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Design a Material Interface Surface
Ended on November 21, 2018
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Design a Robotic Arm Software Architecture
Ended on November 28, 2018
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Design a Health Monitoring Software Architecture
Ended on March 4, 2019
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Create an Electronics Box Design
Ended on March 4, 2019
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Design a Command, Data and Power Distribution System
Ended on March 17, 2019
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Box Mechanical Design
Ended on May 9, 2019
NOIS2
The NASA Open Innovation Services 2 (NOIS2) would like to crowdsource talent to design innovative tools and technology. That means you can be a part of helping NASA expand its new era of space exploration on Freelancer.com. Watch this space to enter NASA contests for free.
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Automated Maintenance Of Protection Systems Challenge Phase 1
Create whitepapers on tool(s) to improve safety and reliability of the power system.
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Automated Maintenance Of Protection Systems Challenge Phase 2
Develop a lab prototype for demonstration and functional testing.
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NICHD Decoding Maternal Morbidity Data Challenge
Delivering New Data Solutions to Improve Maternal Health
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Divide and Conquer Challenge Phase 1
Create a linear equation sparse matrix solver (LESMS) and demonstrate its performance
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Divide and Conquer Challenge Phase 2
Incorporate your Phase 1 solver into a version of Reclamation's 2D model and make the model run in multi-core parallel mode
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Data Privacy Certification Challenge
UI/UX Design challenge - Design a software application to facilitate secure international data transfers and compliance with data privacy requirements.
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Risky Space Business: NASA AI Risk Prediction Challenge
Help NASA predict risks on future projects using AI.
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Network Science Threat Detection Challenge
Apply network science to identify and characterize emerging health threats in the areas of suicide, overdose, or adverse childhood experiences.
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Aftershock: NASA Shock Propagation Prediction Challenge
Provide accurate prediction methods for shock propagation through a simulated spacecraft structure.
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CommanDING Tech Challenge - Phase 1
Provide incident command dashboards that first responders can trust during emergency scenarios.
Astrobee
NASA is designing a next generation robotic assistant to support astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).
APPLICATIONS
Getting live updates and tracking your time is mission critical aboard the International Space Station. Our freelancers developed smartwatch concepts and applications for Astronauts to keep the ISS operational at all times.
ROBONAUT
Meet Robonaut R2, the humanoid robot who takes on the most dangerous tasks in space. For these challenges freelancers created 3D models of tools R2 uses to keep the ISS astronauts safe.
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EVA Handrail
Design a 3D model of a handrail used during Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA or spacewalk)
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Manila Envelope
Help improve NASA R2's grasping ability by designing an accurate model for a manila envelope.
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RFID Scanner
Help the R2 locate and keep inventory on RFID tagged items by creating a 3D model of the scanner.
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Scopemeter Softgoods case
Design a 3D model of the soft case used to store a scopemeter.
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Large Trigger Flashlight
Create a 3D model of a flashlight used by R2 in low visibility environments to assist humans during tasks.
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Scopemeter
Create a model of a portable oscilloscope used to perform regular maintenance and inspections of power systems.
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EVA Grapple Hook
Build a 3D model of a grappling hook that's used to tether astronauts to a structure while performing extra-vehicular tasks.
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Soft Goods Box
Help R2 develop his grasping ability with non-rigid compliant objects by designing a 3D model for a soft goods box.
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Sheathed Hose
Develop a 3D model of a sheathed hose that mimics the many hoses and cables that are found on the space station.
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Soft Goods Task Panel
Help improve R2's vision and grasping controls by developing a 3D model of a soft goods taskpanel.
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Drill Battery and Charger
Design a 3D model of a drill battery and charger set to test R2's ability in operating a cordless drill.
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Blanket Stand
Develop a 3D model of a blanket stand to help testing R2's vision and grasping controls of non-rigid objects.
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Dumbbell Stand
Design a 3D model of a dumbell stand for R2's workout sessions!
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Cordless Drill
Create a 3D model of a drill with and without battery to be used in the development of vision and grasping controls of R2.
ROBOTIC ARM
NASA used 30 freelancers to suggest designs for Astrobee's robotic arm. Freelancers helped inform the design of every component, from subsystems to electronics.
Branding
Inside of NASA there are many initiatives and programs to improve space exploration and the lives of those involved. To help further this goal, our freelancers improved the branding on logos, trophies and banners used at NASA.
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3D Printed Trophy
Design a 3D printable trophy for NASA's internal crowdsourcing platform NASA@work.
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Logistics Reduction Program Logo
Design a logo that embodies the LRP's mission to reduce dependence on earth resupply for space missions.
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Health & Performance Center Banner
Design a logo for the NHHPC who helps support human health and performance innovations for space flight.
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Disruption Tolerant Networking Logo
Design a logo for the DTN protocol suite that extends terrestrial Internet capabilities.
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Evolutionary Xenon Thrust Logo
Design a logo for the next generation of NASA's ion thrusters.
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High Altitude Planetary Science Logo
Design a logo for the agency charged with supporting observatories with balloon-borne observational platforms.
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In-Space Manufacturing Logo
Design a logo for the NASA agency who develops the on-demand manufacturing capabilities for exploration missions
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NCSS Patch and Icons
Design a special patch and iconography for NCCS's mission to enable insight and discovery to happen more rapidly.
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REALM Patch design
Design a patch for NASA's REALM project which provides for the integrated localization, transfer, and status of logistics and mission hardware.
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Robotics System Interface
Create a distinctive brand for the user interfaces for robots of NASA Johnson Space Center's Robotics Systems Technology Branch.
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Autonomous Systems and Operations Patch
Design a mission patch for the ASO ISS-TEA whose mission is to help astronauts to work more independently in space.
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Storyboard for NASA REALM Experiments
Design a storyboard for a YouTube video explaining the REALM automated logistics management experiments.
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Folding Concepts for Radiation Shielding
Develop a 3D folding concept for radiation shielding used to cover human habitation sections of spacecraft.
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ISM Refabricator Mission Patch
Design a patch for the ISM's Refabricator mission which will test the limits of 3D recyclability.
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REALM Project Video
Create a short video explaining NASA's RFID Enabled Autonomous Logistic management project.
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Radiation Shielding 3D Concepts
Design a CAD model for three radiation shielding concepts for the Mars Spacecraft.
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Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking Infographic
Create an Infographic/Animation to help explain the Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN) Protocol
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Develop a Training Course for NASA's ION
Design a training course for ION, NASA's implementation of the Delay/ Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN) Protocol
HALL OF FAME
Get it done
Post your contest. Easier than rocket science.-
Post a contest
Posting a contest is easy. Write your idea, set a budget and click post. It's that simple!
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Get tons of entries
You will receive lots of entries from our freelancers, giving you options to choose from.
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Award a winner
Rate the entries, give feedback and then award the entry you like the most as a winner.
