Student Research Group of Unconventional Vehicles OFF-ROAD
The Student Research Group of Unconventional Vehicles OFF-ROAD has been operating since 2009 within the Department of Off-Road Machine and Vehicle Engineering at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Our team consists of over 40 members, divided into different sub-teams. We are mainly known for the Scorpio Project – the series of high-mobility vehicles adapted to operate in simulated Martian conditions.
We have been successfully competing in University Rover Challenge – URC competitions for many years. It is a series of the most prestigious events in the Rover Challenge series. They are organized in very demanding terrain in the desert of Utah, USA. The competition consists of 4 complex tasks in which the capabilities of each robot are tested. An average of 70 teams from all over the world are applying to start each year, but in qualifications there are only 36 slots to get, so the challenge begins even before the competition.
In addition, we are taking part in many other projects, including our Martian lander Eagle, or widely known Martian colony – Twardowsky! Being one of the oldest and most successful space-related teams, we try to promote space technologies in our country by participating in many industry events, organizing activities for children, or visiting foreign research centres, such as NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We regularly take part in prestigious, international competitions from the Rover Challenge series, where we compete with the best teams from all around the world.
Research group supervisor: Mariusz Kosobudzki, PhD Eng.
e-mail: offroad.pwr@gmail.com
webpage: www.scorpio.pwr.edu.pl
/ ProjektScorpio
Project Scorpio and Rover Challenge competitions
Our flagship project – Scorpio Mars rover, has achieved multiple successes at international Rover Challenge competitions. Below is a short summary of our achievements in this field:
- II place at University Rover Challenge 2013
- I place at European Rover Challenge 2014 – ERC competitions are held in Poland at Kielce University of Technology
- III place at University Rover Challenge 2015
- III place in Phobos finals at University Rover Challenge 2016
- V place at Canadian International Rover Challenge 2019 – international Mars rover competitions, held in Canada.
Successes of SRG OFF-ROAD in other competitions
- I place in the freestyle category at XII Robotic Arena 2020. Robotic Arena is an international competition organized by Student Association KoNaR. The Freestyle category is designed for any robot that doesn’t fit any other category. Vast innovative solutions in Scorpio X rover, such as anonymous system and rocker suspension gave us the I place at the competition.
- II place in Mars Colony Prize 2019 competition – with colony Twardowsky. Twardowsky is a mars colony, designed to house 1000 people. Project was designed by students from Project Scorpio, Space is More and MOS associations for competition organized by NASA and The Mars Society.
- I place in the RobotShow competition at XII Innovations Forum in Tarnow. In contrast to other types of contests, RobotShow evaluated the commercial potential of the participants. Scorpio rovers proved to be viable solutions to use in mining industry or rescue operations.
- I place in the Smart Robots category at KOKOS 2019 competition. KOKOS is organized by the Independent Students’ Association. Main goal of the KOKOS is to choose the best project out of 6 different categories.
- I place in an entrepreneurial challenge at Robotex International 2018. Robotex is a series of robotic competitions, taking place all around the World. Project Scorpio took part in Entrepreneurial challenge, where it was assessed in terms of commercialization and innovation.
- II place in Red Eagle 2018 – Eagle lander. Red Eagle was an engineering competition to design Mars Lander capable of delivering 10 tons to the surface of Mars. It was a very ambitious task, current biggest cargo weighted below 1 ton. Our Eagle lander took II place, defeating many impressive projects.
Full list of awards received by for the Student Research Group OFF-ROAD
- I place in freestyle category at XII Robotic Arena 2020
- II place in Mars Colony Prize 2019 competition – with colony Twardowsky
- V place at Canadian International Rover Challenge 2019
- I place in RobotShow competition at XII Innovations Forum in Tarnow
- I place in Smart Robots category at KOKOS 2019 competition
- I place in entrepreneurial challenge at Robotex International 2018
- II place in Red Eagle 2018 – Eagle lander
- I place in freestyle category and The Audience Award at IX Robotic Arena 2017
- III place in Phobos finals at University Rover Challenge 2016
- III place at University Rover Challenge 2015
- I place at European Rover Challenge 2014
- II place at University Rover Challenge 2013
- A honorable mention in the 2018 Project of the Year category of the StRuNa 2019 contest
- The title of a Strategic Student Research Group of the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology 2019
- A honorable mention in the 2018 Project of the Year category of the StRuNa 2018 contest
- The title of a Student Project of the Year of the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology in the category “Everyday Activity” (2018)
- A finalist title at the 3Mind 2018 contest
- A “Student Innovation” title and a member of the top five in the “Student Research Group of the Year” category at the ProJuvenes 2017 contest
- The title of Constructive Project of the Year in the 2017 KOKON Student Research Group Contest
- The title of a Strategic Student Research Group of the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology 2017
- The title of a Student Project of the Year at the ProJuvenes 2014 contest
