The Colorado Robotics Challenge

NASA's Colorado Space Grant Consortium Presents: The Colorado Robotics Challenge

The Colorado Robotics Challenge is open to student teams at COSGC affiliate institutions. Student teams are invited to build and test their unique, autonomous rover design. Teams bring their rover to the Challenge in April and test their capabilities on the Martian Analog Courses at the Great Sand Dunes National Park April 10, 2027 for the annual challenge!

Teams are encouraged to begin work on their autonomous robots in the fall semester.�� A Conceptual Design Review will be presented by participating teams in November 2026. See the Challenge Timeline below for more information.

Robotics Challenge Deliverables

Robotics teams will participate in the design review process, leading up to bringing their rover to the Dunes on April 10. Teams will submit a final video, highlighting the design and functionality of their rover by April 17.��

If you have any questions please email mark.kettles@colorado.edu or barbra.sobhani@colorado.edu��

Background Information

Who can participate?��The event is open to any student at a COSGC affiliate institution. If you are a student at a COSGC school and interested in participating in the challenge, please contact the��affiliate director at your school.��

Register your team

Design Review (CoDR) Sign Up opens in October

2026 Agenda for reference

2026 - 2027 Timeline

Event	Fall 2026	Spring 2027*
Kickoff Telecon	September 11 @2:00 pm	January 11th @9AM
Conceptual Design Review (CoDR)	November 17 - 20	January 19 - 22
Preliminary Design Review (PDR)	N/A	February 9 - 13
Critical Design Review (CDR)	N/A	March 30 - April 2
Final Project Review (FPR) - informal presentation at the pre-event meet up, no need for slides	N/A	April 9
Pre-Event Meet up at Adams State University	N/A	April 9
Robotics Challenge at the Great Sand Dunes!!	N/A	April 10
Final Video Submission Due	N/A	April 17