Team Structure

Sayak Maji

Batch: 2023

Team Lead

Aldrin Nath

Batch: 2023

Technical Lead

Mechanical

Our rover features a robust six-wheel differential rocker-bogie suspension system, engineered for exceptional mobility on demanding, Mars-like terrains. Its aerospace-grade 6061 aluminium structure, precisely fabricated through CNC machining, laser cutting, welding, and other precision techniques, is designed for rapid assembly and disassembly. Weighing under 50 kg with a compact yet stable wheelbase of 93 cm by 84 cm, the rover is purpose-built for reliable performance in the challenging conditions of the European Rover Challenge.

• Designed for easy field repair and modular upgrades during competitions.
• Equipped with standardized quick-connect interfaces for peripheral tools and sensors.
• Features integrated power distribution and monitoring for system safety.
• Supports future autonomy modules with ROS2-compatible architecture.
• Designed with EMI shielding to protect sensitive electronics from interference.

Sayak Maji

Batch: 2023

Mechanical Lead

Aldrin Nath

Batch: 2023

Mechanical Team

Sricheran Katta

Batch: 2024

Mechanical Team

Dhritishman Dutta

Batch: 2024

Mechanical Team

Sameer Rajput

Batch: 2024

Mechanical Team

Uday Regon

Batch: 2024

Mechanical Team

Electronics

The rover’s electronics subsystem features a modular, robust architecture designed to reliably power and control all onboard systems. Centered around a custom power distribution board with STM32 microcontroller-based safeguards, the system ensures stable and efficient operation under demanding conditions while remaining easy to maintain and upgrade.

• 21 Ah, 24 V Li-ion battery providing over 180 minutes of continuous operation across all subsystems.
• Custom modular power distribution board with integrated current monitoring and multiple fail-safes for protection.
• Closed-loop PID motor control for precise speed and torque management on each wheel.
• Teensy 4.1 microcontroller supervising lower-level tasks with UART-based communication to the main controller.

Aldrin Nath

Batch: 2023

Electronics Lead

Sagar Nath

Batch: 2024

Electronics Team

Animesh Pradhan

Batch: 2024

Electronics Team

Vidhi Chauhan

Batch: 2024

Electronics Team

Robotic Arm

Our rover’s articulated arm offers six degrees of freedom with a payload capacity of up to 8 kg, combining high-precision harmonic drives with robust stepper motor actuation. Built from lightweight, high-strength 7075 aluminium and precisely machined in-house, the arm delivers exceptional accuracy, stability, and durability, making it ideal for complex and demanding field tasks.

• High-torque harmonic drives for near-zero backlash and precise motion across all joints.
• Autonomous and semi-autonomous control via micro-ROS, MoveIt 2, and a vision-guided perception system.
• Optimized structural design validated by FEA for high strength-to-weight performance.
• Two-finger gripper end-effector with object detection using ArUco markers and real-time ROS2 feedback.

K. Nandan Chowdary

Batch: 2024

Robotic Arm Lead

Sricheran Katta

Batch: 2024

Team Robotic Arm

Adityavardhan Srivastava

Batch: 2024

Team Robotic Arm

L. Mohnish

Batch: 2024

Team Robotic Arm

Science

The rover’s Bio-Science Module is a four-part integrated system designed for thorough environmental and biochemical analysis of planetary analog sites. It combines precise sampling, advanced sensors, and robust mechanical handling to support in-situ science objectives at ERC.

• Rock sample weighing unit with a cushioned load-cell platform and transparent enclosure for safe, accurate specimen storage.
• Core drilling system with a contamination-resistant iris shutter and rotary funnel storage for reliable subsurface sampling.
• Analytical testing module equipped with pH, CO₂, amino acid, NIR, and Raman spectroscopy sensors for comprehensive sample analysis.
• Secondary three-DOF manipulator with a bucket-style scoop for efficient surface sampling and delivery to the testing unit.

Adityavardhan Srivastava

Batch: 2024

Science Lead

Ishwari Bhattacharya

Batch: 2024

Science Team

Sayak Maji

Batch: 2023

Science Team

Samyak Kasliwal

Batch: 2023

Science Team

Achintya Mathur

Batch: 2023

Science Team

Software

The rover’s hardware and navigation systems have been comprehensively redesigned for enhanced autonomy, accuracy, and robustness in GPS-denied environments. By integrating visual-inertial odometry, depth-based 3D SLAM, and efficient sensor fusion, the rover achieves reliable, energy-efficient navigation across challenging terrains.

• 10-axis IMU with depth camera-based VIO enables precise localization without GPS.
• Depth camera 3D SLAM replaces LiDAR, reducing power consumption while preserving high-resolution mapping.
• Extended Kalman Filter fuses IMU, depth, and wheel odometry data for accurate, drift-minimized navigation.
• Structured search and dynamic path planning ensure reliable target acquisition and obstacle avoidance under ROS 2.

Pritesh Jogdhankar

Batch: 2023

Software Lead

Pratham Gupta

Batch: 2023

AI/ML Lead

Pragnya Yadav

Batch: 2024

Assistant Lead

Deeptam Bhar

Batch: 2024

Software Team

Himanshi Sarode

Batch: 2024

Software Team

Krishna Gupta

Batch: 2024

Software Team

Swetha Reddy

Batch: 2024

Software Team

Science

The drone is based on a lightweight TBS-500 carbon-fibre quadcopter frame, featuring a PX4-based control stack on a Cube Orange+ flight controller for robust, high-level autonomous operation. Its integrated safety, power, and communication systems ensure reliable, efficient, and secure performance for aerial support missions.

• 935KV EMAX motors with 10-inch propellers powered by a 3S 4200 mAh battery deliver up to 20 minutes of flight time.
• Cube Orange+ flight controller with redundant IMUs and fail-safes ensures stable and reliable flight control.
• 5G telemetry and Flysky FS-i6 provide long-range command, video downlink, and manual override capability.
• Autonomous emergency landing and kill switch enhance safety and fault tolerance during mission-critical operations.

Aldrin Nath

Batch: 2023

Drone Team

Sricheran Katta

Batch: 2024

Science Team

Sayak Maji

Batch: 2023

Drone Team

Pragnya Yadav

Batch: 2024

Drone Team

Prince Soni

Batch: 2024

Drone Team

Adityavardhan Srivastava

Batch: 2024

Drone Team