Engineering Design Challenge Draws Students from Around the World

The Alabama A&M University Rover Challenge Team will once again join the competition that engages students worldwide in the next phase of human exploration. The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) allows high school and university teams to design, build, test, and compete with a human-powered rover capable of traversing challenging terrain.

“NASA has certain criteria that we must meet,” says Adrian Rhoden. The junior biology major from Saint James, Jamaica, has been on AAMU’s Rover Team for two years. “The Rover must fit in a 5-foot by 5-foot by 5-foot cube; the driver must be a certain height off the ground, it must be able to be on an incline and stay there, it must be able to do certain things.”

Teams earn points by presenting designs and documentation to expert panels, engage with other students in STEM education, and successfully complete course obstacles and mission tasks.

“We have to set a timeline, a budget, and use softward to start the design,” says Rhoden. “We try to lay everything down physically by starting with manufacturing, fabrication, and then assembly. Some things, like gear hubs, are purchased, but we build everything else from tubes to sheets. We cut them and weld them together and that’s how it is built.”

Students say preparation for the eight-month-competition begins right after they complete the previous year's challenge.

“Since I was the driver, we figured out the pedal was too high, so we knew we had to improve it for this year,” says Dionne Trinidad, a biology major from the Philippines. “We also saw the seat was too far, so we’re addressing that. We’re trying to finish it in February so we can practice on it.”

HERC is one of NASA’s eight Artemis Student Challenges reflecting the goals of the Artemis program, which seeks to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, while establishing establish a long-term presence for science and exploration. 

“NASA awards funding to the Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) to support these kinds of activities,” says Dr. Wing Chan, director of AAMU's Special Projects Lab, which provides students with experiential learning. “Every year, the AAMU Rover Team receives $15,000 to build the rover once we sumbit the proposal to ASGC. This funding includes construction materials, students' stipends, travel expenses and food.” 

NASA announces the HERC winners each year, bringing them international recognition. AAMU has been part of the challenge for more than 15 years. Chan has been the team's mentor since 2017.

“I treat everyone on this team like my children,” says Chan. “When I see them successful, you know, as a parent, I don’t know how to describe it. They will know soon how much they’ve accomplished.”

Chan says most of this team are also members of AAMU’s Formula SAE Racing Team. Formula SAE® is a worldwide engineering competition for students interested in mobility-related industries that takes place every May in Michigan. Honda, which just announced a long-term commitment to HBCUs, is a major sponsor.

“I call this a prerequisite for the Formula SAE,” says Chan. “NASA’s Rover Challenge is building a human-powered vehicle, but Formula SAE is building motor-driven or gasoline powered vehicles. The Formula SAE is more complex, so it’s easier for our students to go through this and when they pass, they can move on to a much higher level.”

Chan adds both the Rover and Formula SEA teams are open to students from all majors. 

“The Formula SAE wants Universities to run like a company, and in a company they don’t only hire mechanical engineers, they want to see multidiscipline expertise,” says Chan. 

This year marks the 30^th Anniversary of the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. More than 500 students from around the world participated in 2023. This year's challenge is April 19-20 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center In Huntsville, Alabama. AAMU students are excited to see what the competition will bring. 

 “You think all Rovers are the same, but you see large wheels, small wheels, six, four and three wheels; steel, aluminum, plastic and wood,” says Rhoden. “Everyone’s so impressed with what they’ve built and they want to talk with you and share what they did and they want to see yours. You also meet some awesome, cool people. It's one of the most diverse places I've seen in my life and I can’t wait to be there again.”

Follow the team on Instagram.