METU ROVER project was awarded the “Best Scientists” special award at the European Rover Challenge 2020, which is the most prestigious space and robotics competition in Europe, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). METU ROVER took 4th place in the overall ranking in the competition held in Poland, where 33 international teams took part in the final. METU ROVER project continues its activities within the METU Machinery and Innovation Society (METU MECH), involving 29 students from different departments.
The contest, which METU MECH participated for the first time after a two year preparation, was held in a different format than usual due to the pandemic. The teams controlled a reconnaissance vehicle provided by the committee in the competition area based on Mars in Poland, from their home country.
The first of the four main tasks, contestants were expected to perform was the Science Task. The area’s digital elevation map and drone images were delivered to the teams before the competition. The competitors were asked to research the geomorphological and geological structures in the area with the given models and photographs and create a research report containing the properties of these structures, their relative ages, and how they were formed. They were also expected to support this research report’s findings with observations and photographs they would take in the field using the reconnaissance tool during the competition. The competitors were asked to develop their own algorithms and transfer their software to the vehicle to ensure the autonomous movement of the vehicle to the points determined on the map in the navigation task, to operate remotely with a robot arm on a panel in the maintenance task, and to present the project process and details to the jury in the presentation task.
For further information about METU Rover Project, and METU Machinery and Innovation Society, please visit the links below:
METU ROVER Instagram account: instagram.com/meturover
METU Machinery and Innovation Society Instagram account: instagram.com/metumech
Project web site: www.meturover.com
