BYU NewsNet - BYU Engineers Enter Competition to Design Mars Rover

A group of BYU students will be competing in the first ever "University Rover Challenge" this weekend in Southern Utah.

The "University Rover Challenge," hosted by the Mars Society, is a competition among various universities testing prototypes of Mars rovers. Each team has worked hard to create a suitable prototype. These rovers are designed to serve as a support for future expeditions to the planet Mars.

Carlos Pozo, a BYU team member from Bolivia majoring in manufacturing engineering, said the team is very optimistic going into the competition.

There are two tasks the students will need to complete. The first task is to use the rover's cameras and mechanical arm to survey a location for signs of life.

"We have installed an arm camera with a 10x lens," Pozo said. "This will help the geologist complete an investigation of the soil and rock compositions, mineral materials and organisms living in the rock."

The second task is to guide the rover to another area and deploy a radio repeater. Points will be awarded for selecting a good location, successfully setting up the radio repeater and returning the rover to the finish gate.

Neil Hinckley, a mechanical engineering student, designed 3-D goggles that receive video feed from cameras on top of the rover. This technology allows the driver to perceive depth and other special attributes, while guiding the rover to various locations.

Special considerations have also gone into making the body of the rover suitable for the climate of Mars.

"We used canvas material to cover the rover because it is lightweight, breathable and removable," said Nyssa Brown, a junior majoring in math. "The canvas on top of the rover is white to reflect the sun."

Brown said using a lightweight canvas will keep the rover's system cool in the Utah heat as well as protect the rover from the sands of Mars. The canvas is placed on the rover with Velcro, making it easy to remove and store, she said.

The winners of the competition will receive a $5,000 award as well as a trip to the 10th Annual International Mars Society Convention hosted at UCLA this September.