We are ActInSpace organizers, an international hackathon-like to create your own space startup. AMA !

Hey :) can we choose to build our team the way we want? I've friends in others sector than engineering...

For the final pitch, having a multi-disciplinary team is a strong asset. Very good idea to recruit your friends in others sector than engineering. Romain

So.. people have to come in to the ActInSpace with a pre-made idea and then work the details out, or do they come in without any clue and then brainstorm companies to match the challenge? If so than do these challenges actually have a potential market space, or it's more of an intellectual exercise than something aimed to build an actual company after the event?

Hi SkyPL. It's up to you. We know that for some people it will only be a fun moment, but we hope real companies will arise. Some already have after ActInSpace #1.

Can we begin to work on the challenges before the ActInSpace weekend?

Yes you can begin to work on the challenges before the 20th and 21st of May. The challenges have already been published on our official website http://www.actinspace.org/en/challenges and https://entreprises.cnes.fr/fr/web/CNES-fr/11867-actinspace-les-defis.php. However, being prepared a long time in advance does not necessarily lead to victory. Most often, the best ideas are found during the contest with the help of the coaches present and through the stimulation of others teams.

How is progenity of an idea determined when two proposals are made with a high degree of similarity and with minimal differences between them? Are there any ad-hoc minimum differentiation criteria enforced during the competitions?

While great ideas may be shared by different teams, the final pitch is what the jury is going to evaluate to choose the winner. The quality of your presentation and your enthusiasm will make the difference. Pauline

Regarding challenge CNES01 "Ecodrive software", we would like to ask 1) if the initial inputs are just velocity and acceleration, or the spatial data and profiles related to the gpx route are also to be considered? 2) GPS data are to be considered in the app design? or in other words the challenge is about optimum energy routing based on spatial data or the professinal ecodriver data irrelevant of spatial data?

CNESO1: The goal is to determine the optimal distance (e.g. to the next stop sign) at which the driver can stop accelerating. The calculated advised distance, is going to be different if 4 people are in the car when it’s raining or if the driver is by himself/herself on a sunny day. Using a smartphone free sensor app, it’s possible to extract speed and acceleration for a driver. Adding GPX information is a good way to extract a route (e.g. Google APIs or Apple APIs). Romain

Thank you very much Romain for your clear answer.

A final question, are multiple routes to be considered from point A to point B transitions?

We were able to compare several routes and apply the approach for each one of them. As a result, we are able to rate them with: Duration (with ecodriving), Gas consumption, and comfort level (less acceleration changes”. To our view, it would be a great addition since it predicts novel parameters to existing car GPS systems. Romain

Is there an event organised prior to the event giving an oppertunity to the contestants to meet each other before the actinspace weekend?

Yes we have scheduled a warm up event, on Tuesday the 10th of May to allow the participants to meet each other and to establish the teams. Also some coaches will be there to give you advice on your chosen challenge. You need to contact the local organizers to enquire where and when the “Warm-Up” will be held.

Chloe

What is the schedule of the hackathon, can we assist on the first day only? I'm an entrepreneur not a student.

Hi, following this question, i would like to know if we can come only on the second day ?

Hi, No we hope to be full in each town from the beginning of the startup weekend and so we can't take anyone on the second day.

Didier

The meeting is on Friday 20th of May at 1pm. The presentation in front of the jury is on Saturday 21st of May at 3.30pm. It is not a problem that you are not a student, you are allowed to participate. You can attend only the first day but it is not very nice for the rest of your team...

Chloé

Didier.

Are the pitch presentations opened to public ? That's why i asked this question...

Pitch presentations are opened to participants and jury members only. This may vary from city to city. Also we recommend participants to withold presenting all the details of their solutions. This has worked very well for ActInSpace (edition 1) and we were able to help several teams to continue in creating their startup companies. Romain

Can several teams choose to work on the same challenge?

Is it possible to have two different teams at the same city, working on the same challenge?

Hi, Yes different teams, at the same location or in different cities can work on the same challenge. In our experience, Each team comes up with their own great ideas ! Pauline

Where is the weekend held?

Hi, In 27 towns, you have the list here. http://www.actinspace.org/

Pauline

Huh, the one in the UK is at RAL Space in Harwell

Considering applying but some of the projects don't seem to be described that well

The challenge of ActInSpace challenges is to make it short and synthetic. Of some subjects are of interest to you we would gladly take the time to give you more details. We are currently creating short videos with CNES Inventors to explain more. Chloé & Romain

I'm interested in the aerial vehicles for airborne launch, and using drones/balloons to replace probe rockets.

For instance, are we expected to develop hardware prototypes beforehand/on the day? How are we expected to have an app to control a system that doesn't exist?

CNES19 : The goal is to demonstrate your solution through a pitch. As you pointed out, developing hardware in 24 hours is quite short. Some teams may start beforehand, which may help (or not) in some cases. Going back to the subject of CNES19, the challenge is to find a solution which is capable of flying from a distance, to be able to measure atmosphere data over several layers (vertically) and finally to fly away from the launcher site. To our understanding, some drones are designed for flying fast and others are designed for vertical flights. Doing both with a high level of reliability is not that easy ;) Romain

Thanks for the info! I picked that one because the group project for my 2nd year this year might be extremely applicable...

Awesome ! Hope to see you for the ActInSpace ;) Romain

Hello :) I live in Brazil, can I work on a challenge ? and what do I win ?

Hi,

We have one town in Brazil Porto Alegre. You have all the information here http://www.actinspace.org/fr/node/76

If you win I will be very pleased to congratulate you in Toulouse for the gala award !

Aurelie.

Is it possible to have two different teams at the same city, working on the same challenge?

Hi, Yes different teams, at the same location or in different cities can work on the same challenge. In our experience, Each team comes up with their own great ideas !

How long does the final presentation, in front of the jury,last ?

8 minutes for the pitch and 5 minutes for the questions. Didier

Hey I was wondering if we do specifically need to come from a technical background or can we have a business, communication, design training to understand and participate to the challenges? :)

Of course not ! It's not necessary to have a technical background. On the contrary, the more multidisciplinary your team is, the more you have the necessary skills you have to meet the challenge. Chloé

Hello! I would like to ask 1)if you may provide us with dimensions for the parts required to build a mechanism e.g. solar panels(self-opening structure)? and 2) Is there any standard actuator for deploying e.g. the solar arrays?

I believe that you are referring to CNES02. If that’s the case, you may consider flexible solar panels. They have a much lower gain factor. But it may be counter balanced by deploying a much larger surface. It may also be much lighter than current solar panels. The actuator function is done by the self-deployable structure itself. Risk of failure may then be reduced compared to regular actuator used on current panels. Romain

Yes, i was reffering to this one!! 1)Will we have to prepare a prototype model?and if yes, should it be fully functional,been prepared before the competition or are the materials given during the competition? and 2) will you give us the dimensions during warm up or during the weekend of the competition?

The inventor has built several prototypes. One of small ones is made using 10cmx4cm tiles. He has constructed bigger ones assemble to create a mast (for space applications). He has used carbon fiber (black tiles) to have space grade structures. However other material (e.g. with plastic bottles) may work very well and it's much cheaper. For the ActInSpace event, a prototype (plastic or cardboard) should be a great addition to convince a jury. Romain

You may find more information at https://entreprises.cnes.fr/sites/default/files/migration/automne/standard/2013_02/p10454_0409ab11d0230db08dd83cb058523bf81042-en-_foldable_structure_for_spontaneous_deployment_and_locking.pdf

How disruptive are you? I noticed a distinct lack of MVC on your single page website? How am I supposed to trust a website that doesn't run ruby on rail with a .io domain to innovate startups.

Well, we landed on a comet

Do you like being a space start up?

The event is for students but you would be very welcome if you are an entrepreneur. Pauline

Hi, when I said it is for students that means that they are our main target who we would like to help to jump in entrepreneurship. But it is open to every body. Pauline.

If I register alone for a challenge, how can you help me build a team ?

For ActInSpace, a team is between two and five people. We organise a WarmUp event on May 10th. You can participate in any of the ActInSpace cities. It's a great opportunity to meet other participants and build your team. Romain

You have also half an hour dedicated to the choice of challenges and to build the team on Friday the 20th of may. Didier

Hi! You say it's an international event, but many countries are missing… Were are the US? Are you afraid of NASA? :D

The first ActInSpace edition started in France. It was a success and we decided to open the second edition to Europe (2016) with few other cities that we gladly welcome. We are currently working on the third edition with a goal to extend it worldwide. We have had good feedback from NASA (US), CSA (CA) JAXA (JP). Didier

Do you want to steal some ideas from participants in exchange for the hope of a 0G flight? What's your interest here?

Hi. Don't worry as I answered above the challenges are based on patents, data and software. Licenses will be proposed to the teams having taken up a challenge and wishing to launch their start-up with very advantageous conditions. The main indicator of success of ActInSpace is the number of start-ups which are set up following the event..
The organizers and people involved in the organization take the engagement of not using the ideas coming from ActInSpace (for commercial, educational, experimental or research purposes) without express consent of informing the creators of the ideas & challenges Didier

CNES is a state organisation and we want to promote Space in general and space technologies in particular among young people.

Didier.

Thank you Didier, but if CNES is indeed a state organization, Airbus isn't…

Hi, You are right but Airbus takes the engagement of not using the ideas coming from ActInSpace without express consent of informing the creators of the ideas & challenges. If you have a doubt I can put you in contact with them to have their direct commitment. Didier

Hello ! How do the organizers commit themselves to help the startups created during the weekend? how are we sure that our idea will not be taken over by the organizers...? I really want to start a start-up and it could really help me ! Thx for your answer!

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Hi, The organizers have made a clear commitment to help all the participating teams wishing to create a start-up. During the second half of 2016 and a large part of the year the startups will be monitored and supported by the organizers. The organizers in each city will count on incubator or pre-incubator partners. The whole network of the ESA BIC will be particularly available and each city will support the startup according to the means which are at its disposal. Certain industrial partners, such as Airbus Defence & Space plan a prize which includes various tools and support to allow the startup to begin. Didier

Hello It's me again, how can the organizing enterprises (ESA, Airbus...) help in the creation of startups after ActInSpace weekend? I don't really get its. Which kind of supports can they afford?

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The organizers have made a clear commitment to help all the participating teams wishing to create a start-up. During the second half of 2016 and a large part of the year the startups will be monitored and supported by the organizers. The organizers in each city will count on incubator or pre-incubator partners. The whole network of the ESA BIC will be particularly available and each city will support the startup according to the means which are at its disposal. Certain industrial partners, such as Airbus Defence & Space plan a prize which includes various tools and support to allow the startup to begin.

Pauline