Lunar Exploration Innovation Challenge 2022

Name of the competition: Lunar Exploration Innovation Challenge 2022

About the competition: Participating teams were judged on their ideas for innovative pasce technology that will help improve lunar exploration, such as rover designs, communications, software and suspension systems. The competition was judged by esteemed NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, who spent the second highest amount of time in space in the world. The challenge was organised by NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Robotics Club, in conjunction with Aspire Incubation Lab. 

Date of the competition: 6 June 2022

Achievement: Champion

Prize: $1,250

REP Students: Summit Bajaj, Somesh Sahu, Saw Thida Htut, Ong Jing Xuan, Prasad Shubhangam Rajesh 

Product/Proposal: The Renaissance Rover

Description: The Renaissance Rover is a prototype rover with high maneuverability and flexibility and designed with full wireless functionality to simulate communications across vast reaches of space. This prototype functions seamlessly over terrain similar to that found on the lunar surface and was designed specifically to optimise the discovery of water, a vital source of life through the exploration of caves.

The students had to overcome tough design challenges and stretched their minds to solve problems prevalent on the surface of the moon, pushing them to their limits. Despite the significant learning curve and time commitment to conduct research on lunar design considerations, it was a fruitful learning experience for the students. Their efforts have definitely paid off and the team is proud of what they achieved in such a short time.

They are excited to explore their ideas and prototypes further, hoping that their innovations can be part of future missions to the surface of the moon.