How can video games help get us to Mars?
No videogame has had quite the meteoric rise of Fortnite–but what do you know about the powerful development software behind it, Unreal Engine? First developed in 1998, it’s been used in lots of your favourite video games, from BioShock to Gears of War to, of course, Fortnite. But it now has applications far beyond video games–architects have used it to model how much natural light will enter a building, car designers have used to model new prototypes and test aerodynamics, and fashion companies have used it to create virtual ‘fitting rooms’ for customers to try on their garments at home. So even if you aren’t a gamer, you’ve probably bumped into Unreal Engine technology before!
And Unreal Engine has been used to model what is unimaginable on TV and in film–such as the futuristic Wild-West theme park of Westworld and far-off planets on The Mandalorian. So it’s no surprise that the next application will help astronauts prepare for missions to Mars. Virtual reality environments can help model the journey to Mars, as well as the environments that astronauts will encounter when they land. The NASA MarsXR Challenge is now live, with the power of Unreal Engine and Buendea, a VR software company, behind it. The future of Mars exploration can be developed here on Earth–using VR and gaming technology to accurately mimic the environment of Mars.
In the past, astronauts trained in massive water tanks, human centrifuge training simulators, and other high-tech but cumbersome environments, to prepare for the environment in space. NASA is always looking for novel ways to better train astronauts, especially methods that rely on widely-available technology and don’t require large amounts of space. Enter the MarsXR Challenge, using the limitless technology of Unreal Engine to model new training environments and combine the existing training methods with innovative new ones.
Currently, Unreal Engine technology used for Mars exploration can accurately depict Martian days and nights, realistic weather conditions, and 400 square kilometres of realistic, researched Martian terrain. But so much more could be done–and the challenge calls on talented programmers to develop programmes to simulate setting up camps, conducting research, maintaining buildings and vehicles, and more. Sci-fi is becoming reality with Unreal Engine, and this challenge is an opportunity to blow some minds–and collaborate and learn from other developers to further your goals and dreams.
Do you have what it takes? You could win up to $70,000 in this cutting-edge challenge. Check out the challenge website to learn more and start assembling your team!
