ISRO Robotics Challenge Drives Students Towards Future Space Missions
He encouraged students to become creators of technology, rather than merely its users, and to pursue ambitious engineering challenges without fear of failure: Reports
NELLORE: Months of experimentation, repeated redesigns, and extensive field testing culminated in the third edition of the Isro Robotics Challenge–URSC (IRoC-U) 2026, where teams of students showcased autonomous systems designed to simulate future planetary explorations.
Organised by the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), the competition attracted nearly 590 teams from across the country, 20 of them qualifying for the final field round held in Bengaluru from July 21 to July 23. The 2026 edition, themed — Towards Swarm Expedition: Autonomous Surveyor Challenge for Exploration, Navigation and Dynamics (ASCEND) —required participants to develop a fully autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and base station capable of surveying terrain, navigating, detecting features, landing autonomously, transferring data, and recharging in a GPS-denied environment, similar to conditions expected during planetary missions.
The finalists demonstrated solutions integrating artificial intelligence, robotics, computer vision, autonomous navigation, and embedded systems before Isro scientists and experts. Addressing the valedictory ceremony, Isro chairman and Space department secretary V. Narayanan said the participants represent the future of India's space programme.
Recalling India’s journey from transporting rocket components on bicycles and bullock carts to achieving missions, such as the Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan-3, SpaDeX and NISAR, he said perseverance, teamwork, and confidence in indigenous capabilities have driven the country's space achievements.
He encouraged students to become creators of technology, rather than merely its users, and to pursue ambitious engineering challenges without fear of failure. URSC director M. Sankaran said the competition intended not only to identify winners but also build technical competence, creativity, teamwork, and confidence among young engineers by exposing them to real-world engineering challenges. Chief evaluator V. Koteswara Rao described the event as a "festival of innovation.”
He commended the quality of autonomous systems developed by the participants. Launched in 2024 to commemorate the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the Moon's South Pole, IRoC-U has evolved into a national platform connecting students with innovation and technologies relevant to India's future space exploration programmes.
The winners of IRoC-U 2026 will be announced on National Space Day on August 23.