Banana Island Team Triumphs at Olympus Rover Trials!

On 20th July 2025, eight GU Orbit members won the Olympus Rover Trials (ORT) at RAL Space. Hosted by UKSEDS, the competition brought together over 40 teams from universities across the UK. The team earned recognition for their applied skills, thoughtful design, and effective collaboration. In addition to winning the overall competition, they received awards for Best Critical Design Review (CDR) and Best Innovation. The interdisciplinary team included students from mechanical, electronic, aerospace, and software engineering backgrounds.

The team consisted of Phoenix Nelson (Team Lead), Kashika Tata (Vice Team Lead), Eric Dawe (Systems Engineer), Zlatan Čeljo, Matthew Bishop, and Reya Mistry (Mechanics), as well as Zhijian Huang and Shuo Feng (Electronics and Software).

The 2025 challenge was based on the TERRA (Terrain Exploration and Remote Reconnaissance for Analysis) mission concept. Rovers were required to explore a crater-like environment, navigate varied terrain, and capture high-resolution images of designated points of geological interest.

The rover met all mission objectives. It successfully completed a simulated launch vibration test, traversed wet and uneven terrain under challenging weather conditions, and accurately located and imaged QR codes representing geological targets. It also featured a robotic arm that enhanced camera positioning and data capture in constrained environments.

Congratulations to the Banana Island team!