"Paul, you have combined many different technologies in your post which makes answering your questions very confusing.Motion capture refers to using many (at least three) stationary cameras to track IR markers glued to a rigid object.  By combining…"

"A hobbiest really wouldn't have a use for motion tracking anyways. We use optitrack (starts at 800$) in our lab although the university has other systems (including a vicon MX) should additional precision be necessary.

I'm personally more…"

"For a lot of universities, these challenges aren't as much about the money as the recognition.  Completing a task this complicated can jump start a students career and/or help get funding.
 
All the individual aspects of this contest have been…"