Mars Rover - Southampton University Spaceflight Society
Mars Rover
Our Mars Rover project works to design and manufacture a fully functional surface vehicle for the Martian environment and compete in the annual UKSEDS Olympus Rover Trials
Extraterrestrial mechatronics is the combination of mechanical engineering, electronics, software, and robotics used to design machines that can operate beyond Earth.
In the context of Mars, this involves developing robotic systems - like our Mars Rover - that can navigate the Martian surface, collect scientific data, and perform its mission in an extreme environment. A Mars rover must integrate systems such as wheels and suspension, motors, sensors, cameras, onboard computers, and software to operate reliably over rough terrain and with limited communication with Earth. Through this, extraterrestrial mechatronics brings together multiple areas of engineering to solve the unique challenges of exploring and operating on Mars.
UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space [UKSEDS]
The annual Olympus Rover Trials (ORT) are a UKSEDS competition where student teams design, build and operate a rover for a simulated Mars exploration mission. Teams develop their rover through formal engineering reviews before putting it to the test in a Mars-analogue environment.
Preliminary Design Review [PDR]
Initial rover concept and proposed design
Assessed against the mission requirements
Critical Design Review [CDR]
Developed rover design
Assessed against the technical requirements
Best CDR prize for the strongest
Test Readiness Review [TRR]
Completed rover design
Assessed if capable to compete
Competition Day
Operate rover to complete the mission objectives for this year's challenge
Judged on rover's performance to become overall winner
