ISRO Robotics Challenge 2024: A Deep Dive into Team Obseract’s 5th Place National Finish
ISRO Robotics Challenge 2024
For the ISRO Robotics Challenge - URSC (IROC-U '24), Team Obseract from Jadavpur University’s Mechatronics Club secured 5th place nationally among over 278 participating university teams. The competition, held at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bangalore, challenged participants to design and operate autonomous robots capable of navigating complex, extraterrestrial terrains and performing diverse tasks.
##From Micromouse to Mars Rover: The Evolution of JU Mechatronics
We are proud to announce that Team Obseract has secured a National Top-5 Finish at the prestigious ISRO Robotics Challenge - URSC (IROC-U '24).
The Challenge: IROC-U '24
Organized by the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bangalore, this competition is the gold standard for space robotics in India. The task was immense: design and operate an autonomous robot capable of navigating complex, rugged terrains and executing diverse tasks in a simulated extraterrestrial environment.
Out of 278 qualified university teams across India, Team Obseract fought through the preliminary rounds to become one of the exclusive ten finalists invited to Bangalore on August 5th and 6th, 2024.
Technical Breakdown: Building "Obseract"
The transition from a simple wall-following Micromouse to a planetary rover required a massive leap in hardware and software complexity.
1. Hardware & Electrical Architecture
Unlike our first cardboard-and-ultrasonic prototype, this rover was built for durability and precision:
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Mechanical Design: The team focused on a robust chassis capable of handling simulated lunar/martian surfaces.
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Electrical & PCB: The team designed custom PCBs to manage power distribution, and engineered a dedicated Battery Management System (BMS).
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Robotic Arm: A specialized arm was integrated for complex task execution.
2. Software, Vision & ML
The "brain" of Obseract needed to do more than just follow walls; it had to see and understand its environment:
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Software R&D: The team focused on autonomous navigation and machine learning.
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Computer Vision: The team implemented advanced CV algorithms to allow the rover to detect obstacles and landmarks in real-time.
The Journey to 5th Place
The competition was a grueling test of endurance. After months of development and logistic support from our mentors, Prof. Sayan Chatterjee, Prof. Dipankar Sanyal, and industrial mentor Mr. Subhabrata Basu, the team landed in Bangalore.
Facing off against the brightest minds in the country, Team Obseract demonstrated exceptional prowess, ultimately securing 5th Place Nationally.