ISRO Robotics Challenge 2025 (IRoC-U): Space Robotics

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) continues to push the boundaries of space exploration with groundbreaking missions like Chandrayaan-3, where the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover successfully explored the Moon’s south pole. Building on these achievements, ISRO now invites India’s brightest minds to participate in the ISRO Robotics Challenge-URSC 2025 (IRoC-U 2025). A national platform designed to foster innovation in space robotics among academia and industry.

🚀 What is the ISRO Robotics Challenge 2025?

The ISRO Robotics Challenge – University edition (IRoC-U 2025) is a prestigious national-level competition organized by ISRO’s U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). This unique contest invites student teams from across India to design and build autonomous aerial robots that can operate without GPS or external navigation aids—similar to the real conditions on Mars.

The initiative aims to inspire future space scientists and roboticists, promoting research in autonomous navigation systems and planetary exploration.

🛰️ What is IRoC-U 2025?

IRoC-U 2025 is an annual student-centric robotics competition organized by the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO’s premier satellite design and development hub. Through this competition, Indian students are challenged to solve real-world problems essential to interplanetary exploration, including those associated with lunar and Martian environments.

🎯 Theme of IRoC-U 2025: “Fly Me on Mars”

The official theme is “Fly Me on Mars”. The challenge focuses on developing an Autonomous Navigation for Aerial Vehicles (ANAV) system, capable of:

• Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL)

• Scanning and Mapping a Mars-like arena

• Identifying Safe Zones for autonomous landings

• Returning to Home Base — All without GNSS or external sensors

📅 Important Dates: ISRO Robotics Challenge 2025 Timeline

Description	Date
Announcement & Registration Opens	20 Nov 2024
Last Date for Preliminary Proposal Submission	07 Jan 2025
Selection of Preliminary Round Teams	27 Jan 2025
Qualification Round Commences	29 Jan 2025
Detailed Design Report & Video Submission (Qualification)	07 Apr 2025
Evaluation of Qualification Round	20 Apr – 05 May 2025
Results of Qualification Round Announced	06 May 2025
Elimination Round Commences	07 May 2025
Video Submission (Elimination Round)	10 Jun 2025
Evaluation of Elimination Round	11 Jun – 29 Jun 2025
Results of Elimination Round Announced	12 Jul 2025
Field Round & On-site Finals at URSC Bengaluru	05-06 Aug 2025
Awards Ceremony (National Space Day)	23 Aug 2025

• 177 teams were shortlisted after the preliminary round.

• Teams submitted reports and demo videos for the Qualification Round.

• The Elimination Round involved live performance-based video evaluations.

• Finally, only 16 teams made it to the Final Round hosted at URSC Bengaluru.

🛠️ What Makes This Challenge Unique?

• No GPS, no external aid — only intelligent autonomy.

• Simulated Mars terrain arena at URSC.

• Emphasis on real-world robotics applications in space missions.

• Winning teams will receive cash prizes worth ₹27 lakh+.

🔑 Objectives of the Challenge

• Promote Exploration in Space Robotics: Provide a standardized platform for hands-on learning in space robotics.

• Enhance Skills: Encourage development of essential skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, engineering design, and effective communication.

• Co-Development: Facilitate technology co-development between the student community and ISRO for future missions.

• National Talent Discovery: Leverage India’s youth creative potential to support ISRO’s long-term interplanetary objectives.

🎓 What’s New: Focus on Martian Exploration and Autonomous Aerial Navigation

In alignment with ISRO’s future Mars exploration goals, the 2025 challenge centers on developing Autonomous Navigation for an Aerial Vehicle (ANAV) that can guide itself on the Martian surface without aid from GNSS, pseudolite, or reflector arrays—a key technological challenge for Mars, which lacks these positioning tools.

Key features of IRoC-U 2025:

• Design and demonstrate autonomous navigation capabilities.

• Develop navigation and guidance algorithms for Aerial Vehicles (using off-the-shelf drones allowed under DGCA rules).

• Identify safe landing spots, perform stable take-off, hover, land, and return to “home”—all autonomously.

The challenge does not require teams to build aerial vehicles from scratch; rather, the focus is on the navigation system design and in-field demonstration.

📍 Benefits and Learning Outcomes

• Solve advanced engineering problems using science, math, and creative thinking.

• Apply professional engineering design practices to meet complex project needs.

• Upgrade their skills in teamwork, leadership, goal setting, task planning, and objective achievement.

• Analyze real-world data, conduct experiments, and draw conclusions using engineering judgment.

• Gain recognition and network with leading scientists at ISRO.

✨ Conclusion

The ISRO Robotics Challenge 2025 is more than just a competition — it’s a launchpad for the next generation of space innovators. With its Mars-inspired tasks and national-scale participation, IRoC-U 2025 represents India’s vision of combining education, innovation, and exploration.

ISRO Robotics Challenge 2024 Read More…….