The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is launching a Robotics challenge, encouraging students to submit ideas and designs for space robots that could be used in future missions. Following the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 Vikram on the lunar surface, ISRO aims to explore additional missions to the moon and beyond. The initiative, titled “Let’s build a space robot,” will accept registrations from November 20 to December 15, 2023. The challenge seeks to provide a standardized platform for exploring space robotics, fostering skills such as communication, collaboration, inquiry, problem-solving, and flexibility among students. ISRO aims to co-develop future technologies with students for use in space robotics.
The competition will evaluate and award the top three teams based on the jury’s assessment and the fair play attitude of the participants. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, the second-place winner Rs 3 lakh, and the third-place winner Rs 2 lakh. Additionally, ISRO will present a consolation prize of Rs 1 lakh each to two participants. The ISRO Robotics Challenge Day is scheduled for August 2024 at the URSC Bengaluru Campus.
The challenge encompasses identifying, formulating, and solving complex engineering problems using mathematics and science. Participants will also conduct experiments, analyze and interpret data, and collaborate on innovative ideas. ISRO announced the Robotics challenge on social media platform X, inviting India’s student community to contribute to the design and implementation of a Space Robot, encompassing both hardware and software aspects. The initiative serves as a springboard for showcasing innovative ideas, receiving rewards, and collaborating on challenging space endeavors, according to ISRO’s blog post. The space agency aims to leverage creative thinking among the youth for ISRO’s interplanetary missions.
