Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal, will host the International Rover Challenge (IRC) 2026 and the International Space Drone Challenge (ISDC) 2026 from January 28 to February 2, 2026. Organised by the Space Robotics Society (SPROS), the competitions will take place on the MIT campus, featuring student teams from around the world competing in advanced space robotics missions.
The MIT campus will be transformed into a simulated Martian environment using a specially designed terrain called “Sproscape”. Here, student-built rovers and aerial drones will complete complex tasks similar to real space exploration missions and astronaut-support operations on Mars.
Global Participation
After multiple rounds of selection, top teams from countries like Poland and Germany (TU Berlin) will compete alongside leading Indian institutions, including IISc, IITs, BITS, VIT, SRM, and MIT. This makes MIT Manipal a global hub for innovation and collaboration in space robotics.
Challenging Missions
The competitions test students’ engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Key missions include:
- Reconnaissance & Delivery Operation (R&DO): Rovers navigate tough terrain to find targets and deliver payloads.
- Astrobiology Expedition (ABEx): Rovers collect and analyse soil samples for potential biosignatures.
- Instrument Deployment & Maintenance Operation (IDMO): Rovers perform precise tasks on mock instruments.
- Autonomous Mission: Rovers navigate independently without human control.
MIT Manipal’s Leadership in Space Robotics
MIT Manipal, part of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has a strong legacy in engineering innovation. Its student team, Mars Rover Manipal, won the International Rover Challenge in 2024 and 2025 and will compete on home ground again in 2026.
Learning Beyond Competition
Beyond technical skills, IRC and ISDC provide industry-relevant experience. Students are evaluated not only on engineering performance but also on project planning, teamwork, and decision-making, bridging the gap between academics and real-world applications.
For more information, visit https://roverchallenge.org/
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