Our Rovers
Waratah
2023
Waratah is named after a native Australian flower. The name originates from the Eora Aboriginal word 'warada' meaning 'beautiful' or 'seen from afar'. The bold, bright and unseen pink hue of our rover this year is representative of our social campaign - the Pink Rover Campaign, which aims to start conversations about Women in STEM.This year, we overhauled our entire chassis design, implementing a rocker suspension with pivot steering, as well as brushless motors.
| TASK | SCORE (/100) | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| CDR + PDR | 86.1 | - |
| Post-Landing | 90 | 1st |
| Space Resources | 46.5 | 3rd |
| Excavation and Construction | 74.2 | 1st |
| Autonomous | 40 | 1st |
| Overall | 335.3 | 1st |
-
• Modular Interchangeable payloads for specialised rover configurations
• 4 wheel rocker suspension system with pivot steering
• Board-to-board connectors via a custom backplane board
• 6 Degree of Freedom Robotic Arm
• Two finger parallel end effector
• On-board in-situ life detection between extant, extinct of absence of life
• Custom platform and scoop based regolith collection system
-
Weight: 25-70kg
Dimensions: 1.2m x 0.9m x 0.8m (excluding mast height)
Wheels: 3D printed polyurethane (TPU) with bike spoke internal geometry
Chassis Build: Laser cut aluminium frame with polycarbonate side panels
Suspension: Rocker suspension with pivot steering
Power: 2 x LiPO batteries (30V)
Motors and gearboxes: 4 air cooled brushless (BLDC) motors with a 36:1 reduction on drive and 70:1 reduction on pivots
Chassis and Arm Motor Controllers: Custom Brushless CAN-Bus Motor Drivers (BLCMDs)
Computing: Nvidia Jetson TX2, Arduino Nano, PIC Microcontroller
Communications: 5.8GHz (mounted to a 3m carbon fibre pole)
Control: Xbox 360 Controller and Thrustmaster Joysticks
Vision: 8 static microsoft LifeCam, 1 custom gimbal cameras
Sensors: DGPS, IMU, air pressure, temperature, humidity, UV-index, VOC
Life detection: Rapid enzyme and protein assays, UV-VIS spectrometer, RAMAN spectrometer and microscope
Resource collection: Water detection and extraction devices and deployable scooping instruments
Autonomous: Neural Network, sector search, GPS waypoint navigation
| TASK | SCORE (/100) | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| System Acceptance Review | 91.25 | |
| Extreme Delivery | 15 | |
| Equipment Servicing | 82 | |
| Autonomous | 70 | |
| Science | 96.57 | |
| Overall | 354.83 | 2nd |
Australian Rover Challenge Results
(ARC)
University Rover Challenge Results
(URC)
Platypus
2022
The Platypus chassis body has been re-designed to reduce core weight and accommodate larger arm and science payloads. The new body increases space for the electrical system, featuring new board-to-board connectors to allow modular expandability. At the core of the new electrical system is our custom made, compact Jetson TX2 carrier board.
Australian Rover Challenge Results
(ARC)
| TASK | SCORE | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Design Review | 13.6/15 | - |
| System Acceptance Review | 22.3/25 | - |
| Post-Landing | 90/100 | 1st |
| Lunar Resources | 40/100 | 2nd |
| Lunar Construction | 59.4/100 | 1st |
| Autonomous | 25/100 | 1st |
| Presentation | 8.8/10 | 1st |
| Overall | 259.1/450 | 1st |
-
• Modular Interchangeable payloads for specialised rover configurations
• Six wheel double bogie suspension system
• Board-to-board connectors via a custom backplane board
• 6 Degree of Freedom Robotic Arm
• Two finger parallel end effector
• On-board in-situ life detection between extant, extinct of absence of life
• Custom platform and scoop based regolith collection systemv Modular Interchangeable payloads for specialised rover configurations
• Six wheel double bogie suspension system
• Board-to-board connectors via a custom backplane board
• 6 Degree of Freedom Robotic Arm
• Two finger parallel end effector
• On-board in-situ life detection between extant, extinct of absence of life
• Custom platform and scoop based regolith collection system
-
Weight: 30-70kg
Dimensions: 1.2m x 0.9m x 0.8m (excluding mast height)
Wheels: 3D printed polyurethane (TPU)
Chassis Build: Laser cut aluminium frame with polycarbonate side panels
Suspension: Novel design, custom passive parallel linkages, coined as “double bogie suspension”
Power: 2 x LiFePO batteries (28V)
Motors and Gearboxes: 6 air cooled DC motors (775 type) with a 2000:1 reduction on lower joints and 3000:1 reduction on the wrist
Chassis and Arm Motor Controllers: Custom CAN-Bus Motor Drivers (CMDs)
Computing: Nvidia Jetson TX2, Arduino Nano, PIC Microcontroller
Communications: 5.8GHz (mounted to a 3m carbon fibre pole)
Control: Xbox 360 Controller and Thrustmaster Joysticks
Vision: 6 static microsoft LifeCam, 2 custom gimbal cameras
Sensors: DGPS, IMU, air pressure, temperature, humidity, UV-index, VOC
Life detection: Rapid enzyme and protein assays, spectrometer and microscope
Resource collection: Water detection and extraction devices and deployable scooping instruments
Autonomous: Neural Network, sector search, GPS waypoint navigation
University Rover Challenge Results
(URC)
| TASK | SCORE (/100) | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| System Acceptance Review | 94.55 | 2nd |
| Extreme Retrieval | 70 | 3rd |
| Equipment Servicing | 53 | 4th |
| Autonomous | 70 | 2nd |
| Science | 93 | 7th |
| Overall | 380.55 | 2nd |
Wombat
2021
In the absence of the University Rover Challenge, our 2020/21 rover represented our first entry into the Australian Rover Challenge. This rover features a complete overhaul of the chassis, wheels and differential bar to improve the stability of the rover and increase the scope of our payloads. A new two-finger end effector is driven by cycloidal gearboxes (made in-house) and Maxon motors, while our science payload received its own extension of the chassis box and a deployable platform for the collection of multiple regolith samples.
2021 Wombat at VSSEC
2020 Lunar Construction Task
-
• Six wheel double bogie suspension system
• 6 Degree of Freedom Robotic Arm
• Two finger parallel end effector
• On-board in-situ life detection capability to distinguish between extant, extinct or absence of life
• Custom platform and scoop based regolith collection system
-
Weight: 49.1 kg
Dimensions: 1.1m x 0.9m x 0.8m (excluding mast height)
Wheels: 3D printed polyurethane (TPU)
Chassis Build: Laser cut aluminium frame with polycarbonate side panels
Suspension: Novel design, custom passive parallel linkages, coined as "double bogie suspension"
Power: 2 x LiFePO batteries (24V)
Motors and gearboxes: 6 air cooled DC motors (775 type) with a 63:1 gearbox reduction
Chassis and Arm Motor Controllers: Custom CAN-Bus Motor Drivers (CMDs)
Computing: Nvidia Jetson TX2, Arduino Nano, PIC Microcontroller
Communications: 5.8 GHz (mounted to a 3m squid pole)
Control: Xbox 360 Controller and Thrustmaster Joysticks
Vision: 6 static cameras, 2 custom gimbal cameras
Sensors: GPS, IMU, air pressure, temperature, humidity, UV-index, VOC
Life detection: Rapid enzyme fluorescence and protein absorbance spectroscopic assays, spectrometer
Resource collection: H2O detection devices and deployable scooping instruments
Autonomous: Neural Network, sector search, GPS waypoint navigation
Australian Rover Challenge Results
(ARC)
2020 Autonomous
| TASK | SCORE | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Design Review | 12.5/15 | 1st |
| System Acceptance Review | 22.6/25 | 1st |
| Post-Landing | 100/100 | 1st |
| Lunar Resources | 95/100 | 1st |
| Lunar Construction | 85/100 | 1st |
| Autonomous | 52.9/100 | 1st |
| Presentation | 8.8/10 | 1st |
| Overall | 376.7/450 | 1st |
-
• Six wheel double rocker-bogie design
• 6 Degrees of Freedom Robotic Arm
• Under-actuated three finger end-effector (gripper)
• On-board in-situ life detection capability to distinguish between extant, extinct or absence of life
• Custom forged sampling drill
-
Weight: 48.55kg
Dimensions: 1.12m x 1m x 3.3m
Wheels: Beach Tyres
Chassis Build: Aluminium and Acrylic
Suspension: Mechanical
Power: 4 x LiFePO batteries (24V)
Motors: 775 at a 64:1 gear ratio
Motor Controllers: Talon SRX
Arm Controllers: Hiwin Mikrosystems Linear Actuator (24V)
Computing: Nvidia Jetson TX2, Arduino UNO
Communications: 5.8 GHz and 900 MHz Radios (mounted to a 3m squid pole)
Control: Xbox 360 Controller and Thrustmaster Joysticks
Vision: 180 Degree Stereo Camera, 2 Gimbal Cameras, 3 Web Cameras
Sensors: GPS, IMU, air pressure, temperature, humidity, UV-index, VOC
Life detection: Rapid enzyme fluorescence and protein absorbance spectroscopic assays, spectrometer
Autonomous: Neural Network, sector search, GPS waypoint navigation
University Rover Challenge Results
(URC)
| TASK | SCORE (/100) | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| System Acceptance Review | 89.45 | 10th |
| Extreme Retrieval | 70 | 5th |
| Equipment Servicing | 22 | 17th |
| Autonomous | 10 | 7th |
| Science | 85 | 11th |
| Overall | 276.45 | 9th |
Huntsman
2019
Our 2019 rover was shaped by lessons learnt in our first University Rover Challenge experience in 2018, featuring an overhaul to the chassis, robotic arm and communications subsystems. 2019 marked our first rover with a mountable in-situ rapid life detection payload.
2019 Extreme Retrieval
2019 Autonomous
2019 Science Task
-
• Hollow-stem auger for soil collection and caching
• Two finger end-effector
• Four wheel double wishbone chassis
• Full-Immersion virtual reality operator control with Oculus Rift paired with 360 Camera
• Light detection and ranging device for obstacle avoidance
-
Weight: 50.6kg
Dimensions: 1.1m x 0.93m x 1.3m
Wheels: Rubber tyres with 3D printed wheel housing
Chassis Build: Aluminium
Suspension: Double wishbone
Power: 4 x LiFePO batteries (24V)
Motors: Midwest Motion 346E 24V
Motor Controllers: Cytron MDD10A R2
Arm Controllers: Linear Actuators
Computing: Raspberry Pi 3
Communications: 5.8 GHz Radio (mounted to a 1 m carbon fibre pole)
Control: Xbox 360 Controller
Vision: Ricoh 360 Degree Stereo Camera, 2 Web Cameras
Sensors: GPS, IMU, air pressure, temperature, humidity, UV-index, VOC
Life detection: Bench top life detection using protein absorbance spectroscopy and DNA fluorescent microscope, in-situ collection and hermetic sealing of soil core
Autonomous: Colour detection, GPS waypoint navigation
University Rover Challenge Results
(URC)
| TASK | SCORE (/100) | PLACE |
|---|---|---|
| System Acceptance Review | 85.52 | 8th |
| Extreme Retrieval | 32 | 13th |
| Equipment Servicing | 1 | 30th |
| Autonomous | 0 | 9th |
| Science | 100 | 1st |
| Overall | 218.52 | 14th |
2018 Extreme Retrieval
2018 Equipment Servicing
2018 Science Drill
Sandstorm
2018
Sandstorm was the first competition-ready rover created by Nova Rover.
Prototype With Arm
First Prototype Chassis
Prototype Suspension Testing
Prototype First Test Drive
-
• 6 degrees of freedom robotic arm
• Four wheel wishbone design
• Modified wishbone steering
-
Weight: ~40kg
Dimensions: 1.05m x 1.2m x 1.3m
Wheels: Rubber tyres with 3D printed wheel housing
Chassis Build: Aluminium and Acrylic
Suspension: Modified double wishbone
Power: 4 x LiFePO batteries (12V)
Motors: Actobotics Brushed DC Motors (12V)
Motor Controllers: Cytron MD10C R3
Arm Controllers: Motion Dynamics Liner Actuators (12V)
Computing: Raspberry Pi 3
Communications: 5.8GHz Radio (mounted to a 1 m carbon fibre pole)
Control: Xbox 360 Controller
Vision: Ricoh 360 Degree Stereo Camera, 2 Web Cameras
Sensors: GPS, IMU
Life detection: None
Autonomous: LIDAR, Object Recognition
Prototype
2017
The prototype rover was the first rover produced by the team, making it a test bed for our preliminary designs and vessel to increase our technology readiness level.