European Rover Challenge 2016 – The Biggest Space-Robotics Event in Europe

European Rover Challenge is Europe’s largest space and robotic featuring science, business, new-technology sector, and the general public. Held in Jasionka, Poland, last month, students, researchers, and industry professionals participated in the Martian robot competition and exhibition.

Over 60 student teams took part from 12 countries, including Canada, Italy, Peru, Australia and U.S. Poland, with the largest participation, 17 teams, engaged the crowd in this exciting engineering competition.

Through the SOLIDWORKS Student Team sponsorship program and support from SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller DPS Software Poland, SOLIDWORKS 3D design tools and SOLIDWORKS Simulation tools, allowed the teams to design complicated rovers to complete four tasks:

Geological – obtaining samples of “Martian Soil”
Maintenance – operating electrical rack units where several switches and other electrical components are mounted
Assistance – performing a delivery task
Navigation – approaching locations on the field with limited or without supervision

Rovers are remotely controlled. They weight up to 50 kilograms and drive with 3 km/h speed in rough terrain. That demands complicated chassis with advanced suspension. Here SOLIDWORKS also comes to help out early in the design process. The SOLIDWORKS Motion Analysis tool can verify the entire assembly, preventing construction errors.

DPS Software, a partner of ERC 2016, conducted SOLIDWORKS 3D design workshops at the event and on-line webinars for the teams. Take a look at these great designs by students.

MAGMA from Białystok University of Technology,

Project IMPULS, Kielce University of Technology, Adrian Czapla

PCZ Rover Team,

Thank you Adrian Czapla, DPS Software, Poland for sharing with the SOLIDWORKS community. Marie

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Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.