Hyperion – 2024
Hyperion represented a significant leap forward in our team’s pursuit of excellence in Mars Rover technology. Equipped with cutting-edge scientific instruments, a newly designed Cartesian robotic arm, and advanced autonomous systems, Hyperion secured 4th place at the 2024 University Rover Challenge (URC). The rover’s ability to perform complex tasks and operate in challenging environments demonstrated our team’s ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of robotics and space exploration.
Our Rovers Through the Years
Explore the evolution of our rovers as we continually push the boundaries of engineering, science, and innovation. Each rover represents a significant step forward in our journey toward excellence in the University Rover Challenge and beyond.
Helios – 2023
Helios was designed with a simplified drivetrain that saw the removal of gas springs from our Mantis platform. We improved on our 6-axis robotic arm design and built an on-board science system that featured both chemical tests and a custom fluorometer. Helios placed 6th at URC with our main loss of points caused by our inability to locate a specific rock through our cameras in the Extreme Delivery task.
Prometheus – 2022
Returning to our legacy Mantis suspension, the team aimed to pursue systems that were robust but also reliable and realistic to produce as the team continued to grow and rebuild technical knowledge and experience post-pandemic. With a 6-axis robotic arm and on-board chemical analysis capabilities, we returned to URC for the first time in 3 years. The team took 3rd with a travel team comprised entirely of members who had never before been to competition.
Aurora – 2021
Aurora used a new four wheel suspension design dubbed Lynx that featured omnidirectional drive units, enabling greater maneuverability and control. Competition was canceled for a second straight year, but we earned a high placement in the virtual URC competition. Aurora was tested under mock competition environments in Rolla where the rover and team’s capabilities were challenged.
Icarus – 2020
With improvements all around, including increased visibility from added cameras, the move to brushless motors on the robotic arm, and our first on board chemical administration system, Icarus was looking to take us back to the top of the podium. Though competition cancellation was disheartening, the team took the extra time to research new directions for future rovers as well as gave work with our school design center and fellow design teams to 3D print masks for our local hospital in preparation for the pandemic.
Valkyrie – 2019
Valkyrie was another rover iterating on the Mantis Platform, this time with much work put into the science mechanical system in order for it to be able to do sample retrieval and analysis on board and in the field. With an emphasis on testing as much as possible prior to competition, our team was confident in Valkyrie’s ability to be another podium finisher, unfortunately the suspension gave out at competition and landed us at a respectable 5th place.
Atlas – 2018
The year after our URC victory, our team eager to turn our one championship trophy into a collection. With the success of our Mantis Platform, Atlas was another iterative design with significant innovations such as the use of Inverse Kinematics to control the robotic arm. Atlas was able to get back on the podium, though this time at a close second.
Gryphon – 2017
One of our proudest achievements, Gryphon is the World Champion rover from URC 2017. The Mantis Platform, a mechanical response to the new electrical and tele-communications systems of the previous year, was a complete redesign from the Phoenix platform of years past. This innovative suspension and robust autonomous function as well as other improvements meant that Gryphon was able to dominate URC with a commanding first place of a nearly 70 point separation from the second place finishers.
Zenith – 2016
Zenith saw the electrical and tele-communications side of the rover completely redesigned, and with it came the RoveComm communications protocol. Along with that redesign, Zenith was the first of our rovers with a fully composite frame, with a design that iterated on the Phoenix platform, like Horizon had before it. At competition, Zenith landed an exciting first place finish in the Phobos Division.
Horizon – 2015
Exploring new horizons this year, our team was able to travel internationally for the first time to compete at the European Rover Challenge as well as play on the home field at URC. With a rewrite of RED and iterating on the previous years design, Horizon secured a 10th place finish at ERC and a 5th place finish at URC.
Phoenix – 2014
Our second run at URC was a huge leap from the last year. Phoenix was able to secure a close second place finish at competition thanks to our members’ innovation across the board, from a wholly redesigned frame to the introduction of the Rover Engagement Display software for basestation.
Akers – 2013
Our first foray into URC was as exciting as it was disappointing. Akers was a shaky first step into a promising direction and after a lackluster performance at URC with a 10th out of 15 place finish, the team made it a goal to do exponentially better in the coming years.