BUT Rover Team from Bialystok University of Technology Takes 4th Place at the Anatolian Rover Challenge in Turkey – an International Mars Rover Competition 29 July 2025

The students from Bialystok University of Technology designed and built a mobile research platform named 126 Spirit, which they presented at the Anatolian Rover Challenge. In this event, student teams from across the globe compete by designing, building, and testing rovers capable of completing simulated Mars missions.

The vehicle features a 4×4 drive system, a manipulator arm for fieldwork, a drilling system for collecting samples, and its software and artificial intelligence are powered by NVIDIA Jetson. All elements are integrated with a control and communication system. One of the rover’s strengths is its ability to operate in harsh conditions, which it demonstrated during the demanding technical tests (Check-In) and the main stages of the competition, such as the science mission, field mission, and night exploration mission.

– Participating in competitions like the Anatolian Rover Challenge is not only a way to promote Bialystok University of Technology internationally but also proof of the high level of education and innovation among our students, said Mateusz Dziczek, a student of Automation and Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and President of the Student Scientific Association of Robotics.

The 126 Spirit rover was built by students from the BUT Rover Team – a section of the Student Scientific Association of Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The project was a result of collaboration among young engineers from four different faculties of the university. This interdisciplinary teamwork helps develop not only technical skills but also organisational and project management abilities. Within the student association, the team works on electronics, programming, mechanics, and public relations.

Students from Bialystok University of Technology have already built nine Mars rover analogues, which have achieved top rankings in Poland and abroad, including at the renowned University Rover Challenge (URC) and European Rover Challenge (ERC).

The BUT Rover Team is supervised by Assoc. Prof. Kazimierz Dzierżek, DSc, PhD, Eng, from the Department of Dynamic Systems at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology.

The rover was built as part of the project titled “Developing Students’ Scientific and Professional Competencies in Mobile Robotics Through Participation in International Competitions,” funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the programme “Support for Students in Enhancing Their Competencies and Skills.” Thanks to this funding, the team was able to purchase specialised components, conduct field tests, and participate in international competitions—an excellent opportunity to gain practical knowledge and establish contacts with young engineers from around the world.

(prepared by mz)

See the photo gallery from the competition – photos by Karolina Baluta, BUT Rover Team, Bialystok University of Technology.