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Students from the Australian Defence Force Academy have displayed their robotics skills at the Australian Rover Challenge, held in Adelaide.
A team of nine trainee officers, alongside five civilian students from the University of New South Wales, formed the Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) team, placing fourth overall at the international challenge.
Designed to simulate lunar missions, the challenge tests teams’ ability to design and build a functional, under 60 kilogram semi-autonomous rover.
The 30 teams from around the world were tested on the capability of excavation, navigation and scientific data collection in harsh, moon-like conditions.
The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) team earned the competition’s community engagement award after assisting other universities with manufacturing and communications support.
“RAS won the community engagement award for the year, thanks to the technical support we provided to others,” team president Officer Cadet Elsie Drummond said.
“I am really proud of our engagement with other universities and spectators.
“This challenge was not only technically difficult but it also served to inspire the next generation of our space workforce.”
Looking forward, the RAS team is set to partake in the 2027 run of the challenge, working on improving the missed opportunities at this year's competition.
Challenges like these are integral, important and enjoyable features of studying at the ADFA, says acting Commandant ADFA Colonel Adam Bryden.
“Participation in such a technical competition such as this provides our Trainee Officers with an excellent opportunity to develop their skills in a practical environment,” COL Bryden said.
“This challenge was not only technically difficult, but it also served to inspire the next generation of our space workforce.”
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