UQ Space makes successful landing at Australian Rover Challenge
A team of aspiring aerospace engineers from The University of Queensland has won a share in honours in an international space competition.
UQ Space placed 3rd at the annual Australian Rover Challenge (ARCh) at the University of Adelaide, with their rover Theseus III.
9 members of the UQ Space team travelled to Adelaide to compete in the Australian Rover Challenge.
9 members of the UQ Space team travelled to Adelaide to compete in the Australian Rover Challenge.
Key points
- UQ Space placed 3rd at the 2024 Australian Rover Challenge
- The team built a rover and completed 4 challenges in a simulated lunar mission
- It’s the first time the UQ team has placed in the top 3
UQ Space 2024 Managing Director James Orman said 14 university teams from across Australia and around the world competed in a full-scale ‘lunar’ mission, using semi-autonomous rovers they designed and built themselves.
“We’ve competed in the ARCh with iterations of Project Theseus since 2022, but this is the first time the rover has placed on the podium,” Mr Orman said.
“Our main objective was to make as many improvements as possible to ensure Theseus III performed to the highest standard.
“To see how far we’ve come in three years is incredible, and it’s been so rewarding to see the team’s hard work pay off.”
Mr Orman, a UQ Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science student, said the ARCh is designed to emulate tasks that a real rover would perform during a lunar mission.
Theseus III on the lunar landing platform.
“The rovers have to complete a series of tasks over four days including autonomous and semi-autonomous navigation, resource exploration and utilisation, and civil construction,” he said.
“Our team started with some really complex ideas that eventually became practical and ultimately successful designs.”
UQ Bachelor of Engineering student Zac Apelt led this year’s rover construction.
“This is our third version of Theseus and we’ve worked hard to refine its components to improve its functionality,” Mr Apelt said.
“The rover’s suspension was consistent with last year’s design, but significant changes were made to its chassis, payloads and telemetry system.
“We added different attachments to suit each challenge such as an excavator, a sophisticated camera system and a device to measure minerals on the moon’s surface."
The rover completed four tasks over four days.
Mr Apelt said the hard work paid off.
“We had almost zero issues with traversing the terrain, were able to use our excavator, soil sampler and water extraction unit, and our mapping and autonomous navigation systems to great effect,” he said.
“Seeing our ideas take shape from whiteboard sketches to tangible components, and then witnessing the seamless collaboration of the team has been very fulfilling.”
Theseus III on the lunar landing platform.
Theseus III on the lunar landing platform.
The rover completed four tasks over four days.
The rover completed four tasks over four days.
Post landing
Fundamental tasks a rover may be required to do immediately after landing on the moon, including a site evaluation and equipment maintenance.
“Theseus III conducted the first part of this task with relative ease, but unfortunately did not complete the maintenance component. However we are very proud of our traversing, remote operation and sensing capabilities which improved significantly from last year.” – James Orman
Space resources
Evaluating critical lunar resources that could be transformed into human necessities for future astronauts such as breathable oxygen, potable water and construction materials.
“Being able to extract water from frozen ice deposits on the moon drastically reduces the amount of material that needs to be sent from Earth. Theseus III was one of few rovers able to extract a small amount of water in the timeframe, earning vital points.” – Zac Apelt
Excavation and construction
Excavating, transporting and depositing broken, loose rock to feed a processing plant to manufacture pavers and bricks.
“Theseus III moved almost 3kg of regolith in a single scoop, and we were also one of the only rovers to successfully clear 10kg of rock from a specific location. The rover also put down a series of connected pavers, creating a road for other rovers to cross.”
– James Orman
Mapping and autonomy
Driving autonomously without team interference, using a rudimentary map to explore and navigating a series of landmarks.
“Without GPS, and on a relatively featureless terrain, knowing where the rover is and what it’s looking at is quite challenging. UQ Space came second in this task, a major achievement for a difficult challenge.”
– Zac Apelt
Post landing
Fundamental tasks a rover may be required to do immediately after landing on the moon, including a site evaluation and equipment maintenance.
“Theseus III conducted the first part of this task with relative ease, but unfortunately did not complete the maintenance component. However we are very proud of our traversing, remote operation and sensing capabilities which improved significantly from last year.” – James Orman
Space resources
Evaluating critical lunar resources that could be transformed into human necessities for future astronauts such as breathable oxygen, potable water and construction materials.
“Being able to extract water from frozen ice deposits on the moon drastically reduces the amount of material that needs to be sent from Earth. Theseus III was one of few rovers able to extract a small amount of water in the timeframe, earning vital points.” – Zac Apelt
Excavation and construction
Excavating, transporting and depositing broken, loose rock to feed a processing plant to manufacture pavers and bricks.
“Theseus III moved almost 3kg of regolith in a single scoop, and we were also one of the only rovers to successfully clear 10kg of rock from a specific location. The rover also put down a series of connected pavers, creating a road for other rovers to cross.” – James Orman
Mapping and autonomy
Driving autonomously without team interference, using a rudimentary map to explore and navigating a series of landmarks.
“Without GPS, and on a relatively featureless terrain, knowing where the rover is and what it’s looking at is quite challenging. UQ Space came second in this task, a major achievement for a difficult challenge.” - Zac Apelt
UQ Space was founded in 2018 by a small group of engineering students with a passion for designing rockets.
It now boasts 123 members and provides hands-on experience to UQ students interested in the science, technology, operation, maintenance and launch of rockets and rovers.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap between studies and industry,” Mr Orman said.
“Most of us study engineering, but we also have members from a variety of other disciplines who are equally valuable to the team - diverse perspectives are critically important.
Zac Apelt and the team controlled the rover from a tent located behind the simulated lunar environment.
Zac Apelt and the team controlled the rover from a tent located behind the simulated lunar environment.
“We also collaborate closely with the university’s industry and research programs including UQ Innovate and UQ Ventures, as well as UQ’s Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology.”
Professor Pauline Pounds, a mechatronics expert from UQ’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, mentored the team in the months leading up to the competition.
“I helped advise on practical robotics strategies, but the designing and building was all the students' work,” Dr Pounds said.
“They’ve produced some amazing solutions that I would never have thought of.”
Dr Pounds said she was impressed by the breadth of talent in the team.
“They are a triple-threat of electromechanical hardware design, software and algorithms and AI specialists,” she said.
“The team brings talent from every robotics discipline to the table.”
With a third place now under its belt, Mr Apelt said the team had already begun preparing for its next lunar challenge.
“The competition might be over for this year, but development of the rover is only just beginning, and we’re excited to get right back into it and make the next version the best by far.”
Media Contact
UQ Communications
communications@uq.edu.au
+61 429 056 139
Built with Shorthand