Saddleback College Robotics
About The Team
Saddleback College Robotics is an undergraduate student team that competes in the University Rover Challenge hosted by Mars Society. SC Robotics allows engineering and scientist students to work on complex systems within a multidisciplinary team to build the next generation of Mars rovers that will explore the Red Planet. The systems are designed using professional modeling and simulation software, and built using innovative manufacturing and fabrication solutions.
Our 2024 Systems Acceptance Review Video
Subsystems
From precise dexterity tasks to heavy lifting, the arm has to do it all. Engineers design, manufacture, and control a robotic arm and end effector. Tasks include button pushing, keyboard typing, joystick manipulating, switch flipping, and heavy object carrying.
Where rubber meets the Martian surface. Engineers design and implement a drive and suspension system to propel the rover over challenging terrain. Design robust wheels and suspension, create a capable interface and control system, and power motors that make the rover capable of climbing rocks, steep slopes, and loose sand.
The chassis is the core of the rover. Engineers design the chassis, plan electrical layout with power distribution and protection circuits, design housing/mounts for electronics, and set up the wireless communication system between the rover and the base station.
Discover life on mars. Scientists design and test on-rover experiments to detect life on Mars. At the competition site, scientists will analyze data and be tested on their knowledge of our experiments and findings from NASA missions on the Red Planet. Engineers work with scientists to implement the experiments using appropriate mechanisms, sensors, and circuits.
Engineers design and implement autonomous drive on the rover. Use cameras, GPS, and sensors to enable path planning algorithms and computer vision so that the rover can avoid obstacles and reach its destination.
See the bigger picture. Systems engineers ensure successful integration across rover subsystems. They understand the greater rover system, how it operates in the field, and how it can be built and tested on time and within budget constraints.
Business members manage publicity, including social media, outreach events, and fundraising. They direct and produce the team’s yearly Systems Acceptance Review video.
Extreme Retrieval
Traversal of the hilly, rocky, and sandy terrain to deliver tools, materials, and minerals of interest to astronauts over a distance of up to 1 km.
Equipment Servicing
Use of the robotic arm to load a payload into a spaceship and prepare it for launch. Tasks include flipping switches, typing on a keyboard, manipulating a joystick, and inserting a USB drive into a port.
Science Mission
In-field analysis of soil and mineral samples to determine the presence of extant or extinct life using on-rover experiments. Science members present findings to competition judges after the analysis period.
Autonomy Mission
Autonomous navigation of increasingly challenging terrain to reach checkpoints and travel through marked gates. Checkpoints come in the form of visible ARUCO markers or GPS coordinates.
Sponsors
SC Robotics relies on its sponsors to power our rover development. Thank you to our sponsors!
Are you up for the challenge?
SC Robotics is looking for engineering, science, and business students to work on the 2024 rover. We are looking for exceptionally motivated and talented students of any major to join the team. We have positions open for the Drive, Chassis, Arm, Autonomy, Science, and Business Subsystems.