Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) Robotic Space Exploration (RoSE) Team

The VIP RoSE Team will formulate robotic methods in dynamics, control, and autonomy for space exploration and science applications. The team is gearing up to compete in the University Rover Challenge, hosted by the Mars Society.

VIP Team RoSE is concerned with fabrication, dynamics, controls, systems engineering, and machine learning for space applications. The main driving force for the team is the University Rover Challenge (URC). URC, which is an international competition to design the next generation of rovers for robotic exploration. Rovers from other teams and previous years can be seen in the links section. These models are from years of iterations, modifications, and redesigns. There are four sections of emphasis to the URC: science, retrieval, service, and autonomy.

The goal of the science challenge is to design a life-detection apparatus. This includes any organic material extinct or alive. All analysis must be conducted aboard the rover with no human interaction. The retrieval phase requires the rover to traverse rough terrain within an allotted time frame. This terrain can range from hard and flat to soft and steep. The task also requires the rover to pick up objects to be moved to another specified location. The final requirement for this task is to pull a heavy object across a distance. The service phase’s goal is to take the object collected by the retrieval team and deposit the object in a place that requires dexterous movement, like a drawer. Other dexterous maneuvers include typing, tightening bolts, and pushing buttons. The final section of autonomy requires the rover to complete a predetermined course with no human intervention. To read more information on these topics and the rules you can look at the rulebook.

For more information, check out the team-operated website. Please consider donating to this wonderful, ambitious team.

The Team Consists of 6 Subteams:

The Arm subsystem is focused on a robotic arm to be dexterous, precise, and robust to handle any situation it might encounter. The team responsible for designing and building the robotic arm is comprised of engineering students and other volunteers, putting their knowledge and efforts together to deliver a mission-capable robotic arm that is ready for anything.
The Autonomy subteam is responsible for implementing the rover’s ability to autonomously traverse from point A to point B, while simultaneously avoiding obstacles, through the utilization of various sensors and motion planning algorithms.
The Instrumentation & Controls subsystem is responsible for integrating all electronic hardware and software within the rover. Our first objective is to design an Electronic Powering System that will safely distribute and regulate electrical power to the rover's electronic hardware. The subsystem's second objective is to develop an operating system that will allow the rover to communicate with the command station via telemetry
The Suspension team is composed of a purely mechanical engineering team. We make decisions on the rover’s suspension, chassis, wheels, and steering designs. We also determine the driving functionality and appearance of the rover, and ensure that it is capable of handling the terrain on Mars.
Our subteam is designing and fabricating a suite of sensors and instruments to detect the presence or absence of life in rock and soil samples.
The Business subteam runs all of the social media platforms, helps with the website, and finds sponsors to build our rover. The subteam is in charge of handling the financial and marketing sides of the project.