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University Rover Challenge 2026
The URC is the world's premier robotics competition for university students. Held annually in the Utah desert, teams design and build Mars rovers to complete tasks that simulate real planetary exploration.
- Extreme terrain mobility — slopes, rocks, and loose soil
- Science and life detection with onboard instruments
- Equipment servicing — levers, switches, valves
- Autonomous navigation through waypoints
Team Structure
Our divisions
~70 members across 7 specialized divisions. Every major is welcome.
Designs chassis, arm, suspension, and drivetrain for rough terrain. Responsible for CAD, structural analysis, and manufacturing.
Power distribution, wiring harnesses, PCB design, sensors, and safety systems. Ensures reliable power delivery across all rover subsystems.
Embedded software, motion control, actuators, and feedback loops. Bridges the gap between hardware and high-level software.
Perception, SLAM, computer vision, and path planning. Enables the rover to navigate autonomously through unknown terrain.
Operator interfaces, communications, telemetry, and field operations. The eyes and ears during competition runs.
Experiment design, sampling strategies, and data analysis. Searches for biosignatures in competition soil samples.
Sponsorships, outreach, branding, logistics, and budgeting. Keeps the team funded and connected with industry partners.
Partners
Our sponsors
FAQ
Common questions
A student-led, multi-disciplinary robotics team at San José State University currently focused on designing and building a Mars rover for the University Rover Challenge. We have around 70 active members across 7 specialized divisions.
Attend one of our introductory meetings at the beginning of the Fall or Spring semesters, introduce yourself, and we'll help you find a division that matches your interests. You can also join our Discord server to connect with current members and stay updated on projects.
No. We welcome students from any major and skill level. Our divisions offer hands-on learning opportunities in mechanical design, electronics, programming, science, and business operations.
Most members attend weekly Saturday meetings and contribute a few additional hours per week. As competition season approaches, some divisions ramp up their schedules. We're flexible and understand students have busy academic lives.
Our primary focus this year is the University Rover Challenge (URC), held annually in the Utah desert. Teams compete in tasks like autonomous navigation, equipment servicing, and science experiments simulating Mars exploration.
Sponsors provide funding, parts, manufacturing support, and resources for testing and travel. Contact us at sjsurobotics@gmail.com for partnership opportunities.