Engineering, computer science, biology, geology and business management at Binghamton University all come together to build a functional Mars rover.
If humans really do colonize Mars, they might need a robotic friend to help explore and set up our outposts. The Binghamton University Rover Team is ready for that challenge. The team builds a prototype rover that can not only survive conditions on Mars but also run through a checklist of things that a Mars outpost might need.
The rover needs to help with scientific discoveries by drilling, taking and analyzing soil samples to determine whether life is present. Likewise, it should be able to use tools, twist screws, interact with computers and move objects. It also needs to be able to travel on its own to find tools at certain GPS coordinates or bring tools to a colonist. When traveling, it has to be able to pass through gates and survive tumultuous terrain.
The rover developed by Binghamton students competes against the designs of other schools as part of the Mars Society's annual University Rover Challenge. The team traveled to competition finals in Hanksville Utah, in 2023 and 2024, placing 23rd and 20th out of 100-plus initial teams.
The Team
The team is made up of 50 students from every Watson College discipline as well as students from the School of Management, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Harpur College of Arts and Sciences' Biology Department.
The team is a project of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of Watson College, and it is entirely student run. Students are divided into six subteams: drive, human robot environment interaction (HREI), environmental analysis (EA), electrical, software and firmware.
If you are interested in learning more about the team, email rover@binghamton.edu.
- Chief Engineer: Rebecca Carpenter (rcarpen6@binghamton.edu)
- Technical Project Manager: Matthew Stancampiano (mstanca1@binghamton.edu)
Check out our previous official entries for the University Rover Challenge:
