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The Cornell Mars Rover project team (CMR) designs an innovative Mars rover to compete in the University Rover Challenge. We are an interdisciplinary student-run team that brings together talented minds from engineering, science, and business. Together, we foster creative and intellectual growth through the development of our competitive design.
Ares - 2014 Rover in Utah
The URC is an international competition that pushes students beyond the theoretical knowledge they gain in classes, encouraging innovation and creation of new rovers to aid in future explorations of the neighboring planet. Each team must design, build, and operate a rover to compete against those of contending universities in a variety of field tasks that an actual Mars rover will face on future missions to the Red Planet. Our rover must navigate rugged terrain, enduring 1m cliff drops, climbing slopes in excess of 60 degrees, and traversing over rock and boulder fields. We must build a robotic arm that will perform a variety of precise operations, such as manipulating buttons, knobs, and levers on a control panel. Additionally, we retrieve soil samples with a drill, and perform on board soil analysis with pH sensors, humidity sensors, and spectrometers. The above challenges, as well as countless others are overcome through our creative and innovative design.
Helios (2013) During terrain traversal.
CMR members in front of the MDRS "Hab" - 2014
In addition to the competition goal, CMR aim's to create a collaborative environment which will not only give hands-on experience to members but will also build a community and a network, giving underclassmen access to older students and all members access to our alumni network.
CMR Members at the USA Science & Engineering Festival 2014
Testimonials
“CMR has granted me the opportunity to gain practical experience in electrical engineering at the beginning of my freshman year! The other team members have taught me a significant amount of both theoretical concepts and pragmatic knowledge allowing me to develop an EE background that greatly exceeds that of my peers.”
- Justin Cray, Freshman ECE
“For me, CMR is the ideal way to immediately apply what I’m learning in my mechanical engineering classes. Not only that, but CMR also allows me to gain skills outside of the mechanical engineering curriculum, such as how to solder wires or make an effective presentation.”
-Emma Carpenter, Sophomore MechE
We will send you a personalized thank you note signed by our team honoring your generous donation!
We will send you a CMR sticker and a personalized thank you letter signed by the team!
A video shoutout from our team lead and a pun from John plus a personalized thank you note signed by the team!
We will send you a card signed by the rover's arm as well as the rest of the team!
A video shoutout from the entire team and a pun from John plus a personalized thank you note signed by the rover and the team!
Get your name on the rover and receive a personalized thank you note from the team!
We will send you a 3D printed mini-rover, put your name on the rover and send a signed thank you note from the team!