Versatile Rover

Module Lead

Franziska Conrad

Teaching Team

Dr Mohamed Torbati
Dr Jinghua Tang
Hesam Boroomand
Paul Gatehouse

 

The Versatile Rover design is a second-year project that challenges a team of five second year students to combine their knowledge of mechatronics, control systems, and embedded programming skills to design, build, and test a rover. The versatile rover should be capable of navigating diverse terrains for an assumed real- world application such as search and rescue, planetary exploration, agriculture, etc.

Each group is provided with essential components like batteries, motor controllers, wireless communication modules, inertial sensors, and an Arduino kit. The rovers are tested on a custom-built track, featuring level surfaces, ramps, sand, gravel, and various obstacles. Assessment focuses on rover control, manoeuvrability, speed, and payload capacity, challenging teams to optimise and refine their designs.