Tec students ranked in global top 7 at 2024 NASA Rover Challenge

IKTAN Roving, a team made up of 34 undergraduate students at Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Cuernavaca campus, were ranked in seventh place overall at the 2024 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC).

From April 18 to 20, the students competed against 72 other finalist teams selected by NASA from more than 15 countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Turkey, and India.

The 30th NASA engineering competition took place at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, United States.

IKTAN Roving scored 122 points on their first day of participation and 137 on the second day of the competition, in which they designed, built, and tested their rover in a half-mile long obstacle course.

Heading to NASA HERC

The Cuernavaca campus has participated in the HERC competition for 12 consecutive years, dedicating months of work to the design and manufacture of the rover, marketing it on social networks, and explaining science and technology through STEM activities.

Prior to the competition, the team shared their progress through two virtual presentations to the judges entitled “Design Review Presentation” and “Operational Readiness Review Presentation.”

“The team became a family, and it really puts all of us to the test.” - Daniela Espinosa

“The team has become a family; we can be working in the laboratory into the evening, and we celebrate when things are achieved. It really puts all of us to the test,” said Daniela Espinosa, IKTAN team leader and engineering student.

The presentations took place in September 2023 and March 2024. The first focused on issues such as the design review and operational preparation. In the second, the marketing team received an honorable mention.

During these presentations, the team was ranked in the top 5 of the competition.

The 2024 competition challenges

The competition includes “tasks” or missions, during which the teams must develop and build tools to use in the race. This year, a robotic multi-tool was designed for the drivers to use in specific tests.

IKTAN created a pincer that is operated by a drill motor. This was used in various tasks, such as wiring tests, circuitry, and collecting samples to earn points during the event.

“The rover project was a great experience in which I developed skills while representing Mexico.” - Fernanda Rivera

“The rover project was a great experience during which I developed manufacturing, teamwork, and leadership skills while representing Mexico and feeling supported by all Mexicans,” shared team member Fernanda Rivera.

This year, the team reduced the rover’s weight by 25% and simplified its design by including fewer components.

New wheels were also designed in collaboration with campus training partners, which were larger and more resistant than those used in previous versions.

2024 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge

Inspired by the Apollo and Artemis missions, NASA’s annual challenge draws students from around the world to design rovers capable of human space exploration.

HERC asks student teams to develop rovers for challenging terrain and mission tasks. The competition includes travel over simulated terrain such as asteroids and ancient riverbeds.

This is the only competition organized by NASA in which non-American teams can participate. It forms part of the Artemis program that aims to take the first woman and the first man of color to the moon.

Two students, at least one of whom must be a woman, drive the rover on a course of approximately half a mile. This year, the team appointed Diane Zenil and Josué Romero as the drivers, both of whom are sixth-semester Mechatronics Engineering students with a three-year history in the competition.

“Participating in the project has been one of the best decisions I’ve made; the excitement of being on the track can’t be described,” said Diane Zenil, after her participation as a driver.

A team with a track record of success

IKTAN Roving means “ingenious” in Mayan and has won the following awards since 2013:

• Worldwide top 7 (2024)
• Ingenuity Award (2022, 2023)
• Crash and Burn Award (2023)
• Overall Winner (1st place, 2022)
• Overall Winner (2nd place, 2021)
• STEM Engagement Award (2021)
• AIAA Telemetry/Electronics Award (2014, 2016 and 2020)
• “Jesco von Puttkamer International Team Award“ (2016, 2017, and 2019)
• Team Spirit Award (2018)
• Frank Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award (2017)

“The IKTAN Roving team has established itself as one of the most complete competitive teams in the competition and, throughout its 12 years of participation, has set a benchmark for international teams,” said David García, team mentor.

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