MARS at UVA

Who We Are

The Mechatronics and Robotics Society (MARS) at UVA is a student-run, experiential learning engineering team dedicated to teaching members and creating leaders in STEM.

Every year, we build Moon robots for the NASA Lunabotics Challenge. This year, we're also participating in the University Rover Challenge.

• Gain hands-on experience in design, machining, circuitry, and coding
• Practice organizing and collaborating with a professional engineering team
• Volunteer to promote STEM in the Charlottesville community
• Based out of Lacy Hall at the University of Virginia

Lunabotics Challenge

An annual challenge for ~60 universities to design and build autonomous rovers for lunar tasks supporting NASA's Artemis Mission.

• Objective: Mine regolith and construct a regolith-based berm to protect lunar landings.
• Significance: Supports Artemis goals for sustained Moon habitation and future Mars missions.
• Requirements:
  • Build a rover from scratch to compete at annual competition.
  • Submit a systems engineering paper outlining design.
  • Submit an outreach paper detailing K-12 engagement.
• Innovation: Exceptional designs may inspire NASA excavation devices for Moon or Mars deployment.

University Rover Challenge (URC)

An annual challenge for 36 universities to design and build autonomous Mars rovers to support astronauts who will eventually explore the martian surface.

• Objective: Complete four science missions in astrobiology, delivery, equipment servicing, and autonomous navigation.
• Significance: Support innovations for future Mars missions.
• Requirements:
  • Build a rover from scratch to compete at annual competition.
  • Submit a systems engineering paper outlining design.
  • Stay within a budget of $26,000.
• Our Goal: Qualify and score points in all four missions.