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First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge is a prize competition from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that funded development of cost-effective unmanned aircraft system (UAS) solutions for first responder situational awareness. NIST PSCR hosted this four-stage challenge (UAS 5. 0) with prize awards of up to $987,500.
The goal was for contestants to design, build, and operate autonomous or semi-autonomous uncrewed aerial vehicles—with or without ground robotic vehicle support—capable of providing accurate, high-quality 3D mapping of building interiors prior to first responder entry. This challenge was a 2023 past prize competition; eligibility was open to various organizations including universities.
Future similar competitions may be announced through the NIST PSCR Open Innovation Prize Challenges program.
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2023 First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge | NIST https://www. nist. gov/ctl/pscr/open-innovation-prize-challenges/past-prize-challenges/2023-first-responder-uas-3d-mapping Communications Technology Laboratory Public Safety Communications Research Division 2023 First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge About the First Responder Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) 3D Mapping Challenge (UAS 5.
0) NIST PSCR hosted a four-stage First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge (UAS 5. 0) with prize awards of up to $987,500. The goal of this challenge was for contestants to design, build, and operate a cost-effective UAS solution with one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous uncrewed aerial vehicles, and with or without the support of ground robotic vehicles.
This challenge built off the First Responder UAS Indoor Challenge (known as UAS 4. 0 ) to provide enhanced situational awareness and image detection for first responders prior to entering a building.
Successful solutions provided an accurate, high-quality 3D map in real-time to locate missing person(s) and life-threatening obstacles in an indoor, low-light, GPS-denied, or otherwise constrained environment using a technological mapping method (e.g., simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)).
UAS prototype solutions aimed to be easy to operate, durable, and provide first responders with a high-quality 3D digital map in real-time to detect human life, obstacles, and hazardous objects in the environment. NIST PSCR First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge (UAS 5. 0) Stages 1-3 Wrap-up Video Watch the video to learn more about the results of the 2023 First Responder Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) 3D Mapping Challenge (UAS 5.
0). There is an urgent need to provide real-time situational awareness to first responders in indoor environments that have been compromised by severe damage due to fire, flood, structural collapse, and other potentially dangerous situations. UAS 4.
0 addressed this need by developing a cost-effective uncrewed vehicle that can be used by Incident Command in a constrained environment. However, more could be done to improve UAS as a tool for first responders. Public safety would find a three-dimensional (3D) map of an indoor environment that precisely locates obstacles, damaged structures, people, and other areas or points of interest in real-time or near real-time useful.
At the time of UAS 5. 0 challenge launch, such a UAS solution was not commercially available at a low cost to support public safety budgets or comply with national security requirements, such as efforts being addressed by Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)’s Blue UAS Cleared List and by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI)’s Green UAS Cleared List.
The following were the challenge’s primary objectives: Design, build, test, and demonstrate UAS solutions that address the primary need associated with flying a small UAS, or a set of UAS, and optional ground vehicles in an indoor, constrained environment. Develop innovative solutions that enhance the first responder’s ability to gain real-time situational awareness of the indoor environment.
Develop UAS solutions that increase innovation in the UAS commercial market supporting national security as defined in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, including critical components outlined in NDAA Section 848.
“Critical components outlined in NDAA Section 848” refers to the flight controller, radio, data transmission device, camera, gimbal, ground control system, operating software, network connectivity, and data storage as included in NDAA Section 848(a)(1)(B)-(D) and further defined at https://www. diu. mil/blue-uas-policy .
The most outstanding Stage 1 solution concepts were eligible to participate in the remaining stages and compete in a live event. Award winners from the live event were eligible to apply and enter a four-month solution accelerator to improve market readiness or further contribute to UAS research. Please refer to the graphics below for specific key dates and prize amounts.
This image provides an overview of the UAS 5. 0 timeline. This image provides an overview of challenge prizes for each UAS 5.
0 stage. Challenge winners by stage Stage 4. 2: Solution Accelerator Plan Implementation The following winners each received $20,000 in prize awards: Team AMAV (University of Maryland) Team ARCC (Penn State University) Team New Horizon Innovations Stage 4.
1: Solution Accelerator Plan Development & Public Safety Partnership The following winners each received $10,000 in prize awards and an invitation to participate in Stage 4.
2: Plan Implementation: Team AMAV (University of Maryland) Team ARCC (Penn State University) Team New Horizon Innovations Stage 3: Live Test & Evaluation Award Winner Amount 1st Place ResponseWing $100,000 2nd Place Autonomous Robotics Competition Club (ARCC) $50,000 3rd Place Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (AMAV) $30,000 Best-in-Class: 3D Map Deliverable Uniform Sierra <> Purdue UAS $10,000 Best-in-Class: Map Data Acquisition Speed Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (AMAV) $10,000 Best-in-Class: Blue or Green UAS Capable Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (AMAV) Autonomous Robotics Competition Club (ARCC) $5,000/team (tie) Best-in-Class: Bill of Materials Total Cost Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (AMAV) $10,000 Best-in-Class: First Responders' Choice Autonomous Robotics Competition Club (ARCC) $10,000 Stage 2.
2: Prototype Build & Safety Evaluation The following winners each received $15,000 in prize awards (including $5,000 for Stage 3 live event travel) and an invitation to participate in Stage 3: Live Test & Evaluation: Team Aggie (North Carolina A&T University) Team AMAV (University of Maryland) Team ARCC (Penn State University) Team CTUVA (University of Virginia) Team FLYT Aerospace-ManTech Team New Horizon Innovations Team Uniform Sierra Aerospace / Purdue University The following winners each received $12,500 in prize awards and an invitation to participate in Stage 2.
2: Prototype Build & Safety Evaluation: Team Aggie (North Carolina A&T University) Team AMAV (University of Maryland) Team ARCC (Penn State University) Team CNA Corporation / RIIS LLC Team Maroon Scanner (Texas A&M University) Team New Horizon Innovations Team Uniform Sierra Aerospace / Purdue University Team University of Colorado The following finalists each received an invitation to participate in Stage 2.
2: Prototype Build & Safety Evaluation: Stage 1: Solution Description The following winners each received $7,500 in prize awards and an invitation to participate in Stage 2.
1: Design Review: Team Aggie (North Carolina A&T University) Team AMAV (University of Maryland) Team ARCC (Penn State University) Team CNA Corporation / RIIS LLC Team Maroon Scanner (Texas A&M University) Team New Horizon Innovations Team Uniform Sierra Aerospace / Purdue University Team University of Colorado The First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge was hosted by NIST’s PSCR Division and managed by Capital Consulting Corporation, in partnership with Kansas State University, Salina, KS.
Advanced communications , Public safety and Public safety communications research Created April 18, 2023, Updated December 30, 2025
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Open to various organizations, including universities. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $987,500. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
First Responder UAS 3D Mapping Challenge is funded by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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