ATLAS Students to Represent India in NASA Rover Challenge | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: A team of 15 students from ATLAS uGDX School of Technology has made history by becoming the only university in India to secure a spot in the 2025 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC). The team will compete in the Remote Control (RC) competition division, which includes only three teams worldwide. The students will represent India at the US Space and Rocket Center, where they will design and build a remote-controlled Mars rover capable of navigating complex terrain reminiscent of the environment of Mars or the Moon.

The competition will require the rover to undertake a variety of tasks, such as collecting scientific samples, maneuvering in tight spaces and negotiating obstacles such as rocks, craters and steep slopes. “The selection of our students for this prestigious competition demonstrates their leadership, vision and commitment to pushing boundaries,” said Siddharth Shahani, co-founder and executive president of ATLAS SkillTech University. “Not only will this experience contribute to their personal and professional growth, but it will also serve as an inspiration to many others who want to pursue careers in STEM fields.”

Speaking about the impact of the project, student group leader Anish Kumar Biradar, a first year B.Tech student, said: “Some of the most important things we learned were teamwork, time management and the willingness to go beyond our knowledge to find out what something new. As BTech students, we are familiar with programming and artificial intelligence, but this project allowed us to learn robotics and mechanics and apply the skills we learn in class.”

The team gained access to resources such as Makers Lab, 3D printing tools, and guidance from experienced teachers, including mentor professor Shashikant Deepak.

Deepak, expressing pride in the achievements of the students, said, “The university will support all research, including the purchase of rover components, infrastructure support and even visits to laboratories across India. The team named our rover Mushak after the vehicle of Lord Ganesha.”

Apart from Biradhar, the team includes Hiranyam Gupta, Anshul Roy, Amitav Ramesh, Khetanshi Vora, Parth Selarka, Harsh Bawaskar, Tanushree Bhatt, Bhavya Patel, Niyati Sardana, Bisishtha Patra, Siddharth Lama, Sahil Asopa, Megh Bari and Atharva Phale.