Sub-Teams
Robotic Arm
Precision manipulation and interactions
Involved in Delivery and Equipment Servicing Missions
Design the end-effector from scratch
Draft and build a mock-up lander
Resist wind and rain while opening boxes, pressing buttons, connecting hoses, and completing other servicing tasks
Chassis / Drivetrain
Make the rover move!
Design wheels, steering systems, suspension systems, and the chassis
Develop systems capable of traversing difficult terrain
Support rover mobility across every competition mission
Focus on reliability, robustness, and quality
Back engineering design choices with research and testing
Biological Payload
Life detection through science and engineering
Lead the rover’s Science Mission
Evaluate sites for signs of life
Mine and cache soil samples
Perform onboard biological and chemical testing
Analyze results and justify scientific findings
Members gain experience with CAD, prototyping, manufacturing, chemical and biological testing, and engineering decision-making.
Electrical
Power distribution, controls, and integration
Design and maintain rover power distribution and wiring
Design and assemble custom PCBs for power and control systems
Integrate motor controllers, sensors, and CAN communication
Troubleshoot and test electrical systems
Learn soldering, multimeter use, electrical debugging, and safety
Software
Program the rover!
Develop software for the drivetrain, robotic arm, and payload
Program autonomous navigation and object detection
Integrate rover subsystems and Mission Control
Work with embedded systems and Python
Use industry-standard tools including ROS 2, Docker, and Git
Operations
Oversee project organization across the team
Collaborate with every technical subteam
Coordinate competition deliverables
Apply systems engineering concepts throughout rover development
Manage engineering documentation and the engineering lifecycle
