What is ERC?
European Rover Challenge is one of Europe’s biggest international space and robotics events. Every year it takes place in Poland and enables young engineers to pursue careers in space and aerospace industries bringing them together with professionals who work in the field.
What is ERC STUDENT?
ERC STUDENT is ERC’s main event where teams compete with each other on multiple missions on a field that is modeled after mars and moon surfaces.
What are these ERC missions?
The European Rover Challenge consists of 5 main missions. After starting the mission the teams must complete each mission without physically interacting with the Rover. Extra points are awarded for different levels of autonomous completion of the tasks.
Tasks
The rover must collect surface samples from different regions of the crater and must gather an additional deep soil sample. The Rover is also expected to analyze the sample with various on-board instruments
The Rover is expected to manipulate buttons and knobs on the control panel to complete tasks. This is done with a robotic arm and cameras are used to provide feedback.
The rover is expected to reach the pre-determined locations to collect the buried test tubes. After collecting rover have to place them in the container on top of it and bring them back to the starting location
The rover is expected to traverse a course stopping at the correct points with the help of computer vision and ARTag beacons placed along Its path.
The teams are expected to give information about their design process, financing to the members of the ERC jury.