Team RoSE (Robotic Space Exploration)

About Team RoSE (Robotic Space Exploration)

Team RoSE (Robotic Space Exploration) is a student-led initiative operating within the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's College of Engineering as a Vertically Integrated Project (VIP). This structure provides a framework for undergraduate students to engage in long-term, multidisciplinary research and engineering projects under the guidance of faculty mentors and graduate student researchers. The team's primary focus is the design, fabrication, and operation of advanced robotic systems for space exploration, with a significant emphasis on developing rovers for competitions such as the University Rover Challenge (URC). The organization functions as a hands-on training ground for students across mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and other STEM fields. The core of their work involves developing rovers equipped with features like robotic arms, autonomous navigation systems, and science payloads designed for tasks relevant to planetary exploration. These tasks include traversing rough terrain, performing on-board life detection analysis, and conducting dexterous operations like manipulating objects and tightening bolts without human intervention. Team RoSE's operational model is project-based, centered on annual iterations for the URC, which drives the continuous development and refinement of their rover designs. A 2024-2025 strategy document highlights a team of 48 undergraduate students advised by Dr. Frances Zhu, Dr. Matthew Siegler, and Dr. Marvin Young. Beyond its primary rover project, Team RoSE has expanded its portfolio to include other aerospace concepts. A notable success is Project PETAL (Power Energy Transfer Architecture for the Lunar), a concept for a scalable lunar power management system. This project was selected as a finalist in NASA's 2026 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts–Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition, securing a $7,000 award to present the concept to NASA and industry experts. The team has also been recognized for its engineering process, becoming a finalist for the INCOSE Foundation Excellence in Systems Engineering Award. Through these projects, Team RoSE contributes to the development of both space technology and a skilled workforce for the aerospace industry. Keywords: robotic space exploration, autonomous navigation, University Rover Challenge, planetary rovers, systems engineering, mechatronics, University of Hawaiʻi, lunar power systems, robotic arm, life detection, regolith, NASA RASC-AL, aerospace engineering, Vertically Integrated Projects, student engineering, extraterrestrial exploration, Mars Desert Research Station, Project PETAL, space systems, astrophotography telescope