Have you ever wondered what it would be like to design a Mars rover? The SuRover project, an ambitious student initiative focused on designing and building Mars rovers to compete in international competitions, is doing exactly that!
SuRover participated in Saha Expo 2024, Europe’s largest defense, aviation, and space fair, held at the Istanbul Expo Center on October 22-26, 2024. SuRover participated in the fair with SU-IMC, with whom it currently produces the carbon fiber monocoque chassis of its vehicles, and held one-on-one meetings with many company executives.
In order to demonstrate Sabancı University’s capabilities in the field of composites, SuRover is producing its new vehicles with carbon fiber, which is 3 times stronger and 5 times lighter than steel, in collaboration with SU-IMC (Sabancı University Integrated Manufacturing Center). Thanks to this material technology, its vehicles will be much more efficient in the field.
Founded in 2020, the SuRover team participated in their first international competition in 2023 with the Legacy V1 rover. They are currently working on their second model, the Legacy V2. However, SuRover is not just a robotics project. It continues its work as part of a larger mission to advance technology in Turkey and inspire the next generation of engineers.
SuRover's Mission
The SuRover team has three main goals. First, they want to develop and promote Turkish technology in the fields of space and robotics. By participating in well-known rover competitions such as the University Rover Challenge (URC) in the United States, the European Rover Challenge (ERC) in Poland, and the Anatolian Rover Challenge (ARC) in Turkey, SuRover aims to proudly represent Turkey on the world stage.
Secondly, SuRover aims to provide its members with an engineering experience that supports Turkey's National Technology Move. Students at SuRover gain and apply engineering and software experience that they can use in their careers for a fully independent Turkey in the field of technology.
Finally, SuRover aims to best represent Sabancı University and its sponsors, who play a key role in the continuation of their projects, in the national and international arena. It participates in technology fairs, organizes events, and participates in competitions.
The SuRover team has three main goals. First, they want to develop and promote Turkish technology in the fields of space and robotics. By participating in well-known rover competitions such as the University Rover Challenge (URC) in the United States, the European Rover Challenge (ERC) in Poland, and the Anatolian Rover Challenge (ARC) in Turkey, SuRover aims to proudly represent Turkey on the world stage.
Secondly, SuRover aims to provide its members with an engineering experience that supports Turkey's National Technology Move. Students at SuRover gain and apply engineering and software experience that they can use in their careers for a fully independent Turkey in the field of technology.
Finally, SuRover aims to best represent Sabancı University and its sponsors, who play a key role in the continuation of their projects, in the national and international arena. It participates in technology fairs, organizes events, and participates in competitions.
It’s a team effort
The SuRover team consists of five special sub-teams: Software, Mechanical, Science, Business Development, and Electronics. Each sub-team takes on a different aspect of the rover’s development:
- The Software Team takes on programming tasks, enabling the rover to sense the outside world, collect data and move autonomously.
- The Mechanical Team designs and analyzes the rover in a computer environment so that it can move smoothly over rough terrain and complete other robotic arm tasks, and undertakes the production of parts.
- The Science Team works to ensure that the rover can take samples from the surface and perform analysis. Like true Mars scientists, they contribute to the exploration process by examining and analyzing the collected samples.
- The Business Development Team works to find sponsorships and funding to support the project.
- The Electronics Team designs customized PCBs, power distribution systems, and reliable electronic systems that will power the rover for more than 115 minutes.
The project has received support from various sponsors who reflect Turkey’s interest in its technological future.
The team, which continues to develop its vehicles, will participate in the University Rover Challenge, one of the world's most prestigious robotics competitions, to be held in the US. The team also plans to participate in the European Rover Challenge, to be held in Poland. We wish SURover success in their work.