Help Comet Robotics Build a Martian Rover

Solis Rover Project (SRP) is a team within UTD’s Comet Robotics dedicated to designing, building, and competing with a Mars exploration rover. Our goal is to participate in the University Rover Challenge (URC) this May—an international competition that brings together the best collegiate robotics teams to push the boundaries of autonomous planetary exploration. UT Dallas has never qualified for this competition before, but this year, we are closer than ever.

URC is the world’s premier robotics competition for college students, held annually in the deserts of southern Utah. It challenges student teams to build rovers that could one day assist astronauts on Mars. Competing at URC means putting UTD’s name on the map in a way it has never been before—standing alongside top-tier universities from around the world, showcasing our talent, and proving that UTD students can compete at the highest level of engineering innovation. This is more than just a competition; it’s an opportunity to elevate UTD’s reputation in robotics and space exploration.

SRP has a 40-member team with students from engineering, ATEC, and business backgrounds. We are divided into four sub-teams:

• Mechanical Team – Designs and fabricates the rover’s structure and mobility system
• Embedded Team – Develops the rover’s control systems and autonomous functions
• Science Team – Implements onboard research tools for terrain and sample analysis
• Logistics Team – Manages fundraising, sponsorships, and outreach

Building a fully functional Mars rover is an expensive challenge, and as part of Comet Robotics, SRP operates on a tight budget. Your support will allow us to complete our rover and ensure that we make it to the competition. Donated funds will be used as such:

If we exceed our fundraising goal, additional funds will allow us to:

• Enhance autonomy and navigation with extra cameras, sensors, and computing power
• Upgrade our rover’s spectroscopy capabilities for more accurate environmental analysis
• Build backup components (e.g., spare wheels, batteries) to ensure a smooth competition process

By competing in the URC, we’re not just advancing our technical skills—we’re showcasing what UTD students are capable of and inspiring future engineers, scientists, and innovators within our university and beyond.

This is an opportunity to put UTD on a global stage and make history for our university. Your support will help us take this step forward, proving that UTD belongs among the world’s top robotics institutions.

Join us in making this vision a reality. Donate today and help us bring UTD to the University Rover Challenge! "