European Rover Challenge


European Rover Challenge is an annual Martian robot competition held in Poland. It began in 2014 at the Regional Science and Technology Centre in Chęciny, and until 2023 has been held in Jasionka, Starachowice, and Kielce. In 2024 and 2025 the competition was held at the AGH University of Krakow.
The ERC is the largest robotics and space event in Europe. It is addressed towards scientists, businesspersons, the technology sector and the general public. Along with the University Rover Challenge, the ERC is a part of the Rover Challenge Series.

History

Prior to 2020, all robots and their operators attended the competition on-site. In 2020, the competition switched to a "remote" formula, in which competitors from several continents remotely controlled a robot located on the Mars yard on the campus of the Kielce University of Technology in Poland. When on-site participation resumed in 2021, this remote competing method was retained.

Competition tasks (ON-SITE)

is not allowed to be used by the robots and team members do not see the robots they are navigating. Therefore, they must rely on the robot's other sensors to complete the competition's tasks.

Competition history

The European Rover Challenge has been organized since 2014. The plans to organize the first edition were announced at the International Space Week.

1st edition (5–7 September 2014)

The first edition of the ERC took place at the Regional Science and Technology Centre in Chęciny near Kielce, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The competition was attended by nine teams from Poland, Lithuania, India, Egypt, and Colombia. Among the guests, were Professor Scott Hubbard, former head of NASA's Ames Research Centre, and Robert Zubrin, founder of the Mars Society.
Winners:       
During the event the Regional Science and Technology Centre, where the competition took place, officially opened.

2nd edition (4–6 September 2015)

The second edition of the ERC also took place at the Regional Science and Technology Centre. The competition was attended by 29 teams from the US, Australia, India, Colombia, the Netherlands, Egypt, Poland, Canada, and other countries. Specials guests of the second edition included astronaut Harrison Schmitt and writer Andy Weir remotely.File:Harrison Shmitt on ERC.jpg|thumb|Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt at the ERC2015
Winners:
  • 1st place: USST, Canada
  • 2nd place: Next, Białystok, Poland
  • 3rd place: McGill Robotics, Canada

    3rd edition (10–12 September 2016)

An important event during the ERC 2016 was a Polish part of a civil debate on the future of space exploration organized by the European Space Agency. The debate took place in 22 countries at the same time and was attended by 2,000 people who were not involved with the space sector. They discussed such subjects as space exploration, using its resources, and the growing importance of space. Its objective was to verify public opinion and the results were to be considered while developing future strategies of ESA.Winners:
  • 1st place: Raptors, Poland
  • 2nd place: Impuls, Poland
  • 3rd place: McGill Robotics, Canada

    4th edition (14–15 September 2018)

The fourth edition of the European Rover Challenge was organized in Starachowice, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, at the Museum of Nature and Technology. The competition was attended by 35 teams from 20 countries. The fourth edition of the challenge was accompanied by the biggest Science and Technology Show Zone in history. It attracted over 25,000 visitors. Among the guests, there was astronaut Tim Peake, Artemis Westenberg – President of Explore Mars Europe, Gianfranco Visentin, Head of Automation and Robotics Section at ESA, and Maria Antonietta Perino, Head of Advanced Exploration Programmes at Thales Alenia Space.
It was the first time when Pro Formula had been organized along with the competition. It was addressed to professionals from the space sector and constructors of space robots who wanted to test their constructions in the Mars Yard without participating in the challenge.
Winners:
  • 1st place: Impuls, Poland           
  • 2nd place: Raptors, Poland
  • 3rd place: Robotics for Space Exploration, Canada
  • Jury Award: RoverOva, Czech Republic

    5th edition (13–15 September 2019)

The ERC 2019 took place at the Kielce University of Technology with over 40 teams qualified for the competition.
The fifth edition of the challenge was accompanied by the Mentoring and Business Conference attended by representatives of the space sector from Poland, Europe and the whole world, including Steve Jurczyk, Associate Administrator at NASA, Maria Antonietta Perino from Thales Alenia Space, Gianfranco Visentin and Pantelis Poulakis from ESA and Artemis Westenberg from Explore Mars Europe.
Winners:
  • 1st place: Impuls, Poland           
  • 2nd place: AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • 3rd place: RoverOva, Czech Republic

    6th edition (11–13 September 2020)

The sixth edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. Over 60 teams from all over the world applied to participate in the competition. The 2020 edition was the first one to introduce the remote formula. The competition was conducted using the platform and mobile robots. A total of 33 teams qualified for the finals.
Winners:
  • 1st place: ERIG e.V., Germany
  • 2nd place: RoverOva, Czech Republic
  • 3rd place : DJS Antariksh, India, and Robocol, Colombia
Additional awards:
  • Best Design Award: Best Design: AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • Best Design Award: Best Docs: STAR Dresden e.V., Germany
  • Best Design Award: Best Science Design: ERIG e.V., Germany
  • Best Autonomy Navigation: RoverOva, Czech Republic
  • Best Scientists: METU Rover, Turkey
  • Best Science Planning: DJS Antariksh, India
  • Best Planetary Map: Robocol, Colombia
  • Best Analysis: RoverOva, Czech Republic
  • Best Dexterity: RoboClyde, UK
  • Best Presentation: AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • Mathworks Special Prize: SKA Robotics, Poland
The 2020 edition was the first to be broadcast live on the during the three days of the event. The guests of the ERC2020 industry conference were, among others:
The seventh edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. The 2021 edition was the first to be held in both on-site and remote formulas.
Winners:
  • 1st place : Impuls Team, Poland
  • 2nd place : ITU Rover Team, Turkey
  • 3rd place : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • 1st place : DJS Antariksh, India
  • 2nd place : ERIG, Germany
  • 3rd place : RoboClyde, UK
Additional awards:
  • Best Navigation : AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • Best Maintenance : ITU Rover Team, Turkey
  • Best Science : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • Best Probing : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • Best Presentation : AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • Best Navigation : DJS Antariksh, India
  • Best Maintenance : ERIG, Germany
  • Best Science : DJS Antariksh, India
  • Best Presentation : Mars Rover Manipal, India
Selected speakers that appeared during the ERC 2021 live broadcast:
  • Robert D. Cabana – NASA Associate Administrator;
  • Robert Zubrin – Mars Society, Pioneer Astronautics;
  • Annalisa Donati – EURISY;
  • Chris Welch – International Space University;
  • Maria Antonietta Perino – Thales Alenia Space;
  • Grzegorz Wrochna – Polska Agencja Kosmiczna;
  • Artemis Westenberg – Explore Mars Europe.

    8th edition (9-11 September 2022)

The eighth edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. Similar to the previous year's edition, the ERC 2022 was held in both on-site and remote formulas.
Winners:
  • 1st place : AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • 2nd place : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • 3rd place : ITU Rover Team, Turkey
  • 1st place : DJS Antariksh, India
  • 2nd place : Mars Rover Manipal, India
  • 3rd place : Project RED, Italy
Additional awards:
  • Best Performance NAVIGATION : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • Best Performance NAVIGATION : IIT Bombay Mars Rover Team, India
  • Best Performance MAINTENANCE : Frankfurt Robotics Science Team, Germany
  • Best Performance MAINTENANCE : Mars Rover Manipal, India
  • Best Performance SCIENCE : ERIG, Germany
  • Best Performance SCIENCE : Mars Rover Manipal, India
  • Best Performance PROBING: STAR Dresden, Germany
  • Best Performance PRESENTATION : ITU Rover Team, Turkey
  • Best Performance PRESENTATION : Mars Rover Manipal, India

    9th edition (15–17 September 2023)

The 9th Edition of the ERC was held at the Kielce University of Technology. Similar to the two previous year's editions, the ERC 2023 was held in both on-site and remote formulas.
Winners:
  • 1st place : AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • 2nd place : FHNW Rover Team, Switzerland
  • 3rd place : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • 1st place : Makercie, Netherlands
  • 2nd place : DJS Antariksh, India
  • 3rd place : Project RED, Italy
Additional awards:
  • Best Performance NAVIGATION : AGH Space Systems, Poland
  • Best Performance NAVIGATION : Project RED, Italy
  • Best Performance MAINTENANCE : EPFL Xplore, Switzerland
  • Best Performance MAINTENANCE : CRISS Robotics, India
  • Best Performance SCIENCE : Beyond Robotics, Greece
  • Best Performance COLLECTION & PROBING: FHNW Rover Team, Switzerland
  • Best Performance PRESENTATION : Imperial Planetary Robotics Lab, UK
  • Best Performance PRESENTATION : Makercie, Netherlands