Our Story: The Harvard Rover Team
Founded in October 2024, we are Harvard’s inaugural team on a mission to compete in the University Rover Challenge (URC) organized by the Mars Society. Our team is dedicated to building cutting-edge autonomous rovers for planetary exploration.
What is the University Rover Challenge?
The University Rover Challenge (URC) is the world's premier robotics competition for university students, organized by the Mars Society.
Held annually in southern Utah, the challenge brings together 100+ participants from over a dozen countries. Teams compete to build the next generation of Mars rovers, designed to assist astronauts in future missions to the Red Planet.
The competition pushes boundaries in autonomous navigation, scientific discovery, and robotic dexterity, creating real-world space exploration scenarios. Students apply engineering, AI, and human-robot interaction to drive innovation.
Our Story
Our dear leader Jannah El Rayees founded the Rover Team as part of the Harvard Undergraduate Robotics Club, envisioning a transformation into a competitive team with long-term projects that develop practical skills in mechanical, electrical, and software engineering.
Within weeks, her vision captivated the Harvard engineering community. We rapidly grew to about 30 members in the first week, many of whom remain full-time members, leaders, and educators. Through strong leadership and unwavering passion, our team has built a foundation of fun and innovation.
