Mars Exploration Closer Than you Think

NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium Robotics Challenge Winners

CMU/CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Program students are calibrated for success, mirroring their mechanical masterpieces. On Saturday, April 13, sophomores Jake Thompson and Corbin McHerron leveraged their classroom expertise at the NASA Colorado Space Grant Consortium (COSGC) Robotics Challenge. Accompanied by Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Michelle Mellenthin, PhD, and co-challengers Emilie Teel and Joshua Thomas, the teams made their way to the Great Sand Dunes National Park to showcase their innovations.  

Marking a return to the challenge after several years, CMU registered alongside competitors from 21 COSGC-affiliate institutions. Teams were invited to accomplish a unique task: craft a robot under 5 kgs capable of autonomous navigation through sandy and rocky terrains without GPS or controllers — qualities essential for potential Mars exploration. While many teams had a full academic year to prepare, McHerron, Thompson and their peers had just 10 weeks and a budget of $500 to meet all competition requirements.  

Throughout the process, team one: McHerron and Thompson and team two: Alyssa Jackson, Teel and Thomas, underwent two design reviews with COSGC members, including COSGC Affiliate Director Karl Castleton, who provided valuable feedback, critiques and supplies. Real-world testing on campus sand pits and obstacle courses further helped students assess the capabilities of their creations. When it came to the final test, the southern Colorado dunes perfectly simulated an unearthly environment. After successfully navigating the challenge’s diverse terrain, Thompson and McHerron were recognized for their innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, winning the award for Outstanding Demonstration of Creative Locomotion.  

While others might stress about the time crunch, Thompson and McHerron met the challenge head on, seeing it as an opportunity rather than a downfall.

“Sometimes you’re only given 10 weeks to build and code a very complicated project in the real world. It is good we got that experience with this challenge,” Thompson said.  

Professor Mellenthin echoed this sentiment, praising the students’ resiliency.

“It was really fun to watch students think creatively on this project as they had to troubleshoot and iterate through their designs. This is something that happens a lot on big projects once they graduate, but not often enough in a classroom. The students really rose to the occasion.” 

McHerron and Thompson went on to present their accumulation of knowledge at the COSGC Research Symposium through a virtual presentation on April 28 in front of panels of scientists and engineers from NASA and other aerospace engineering companies. Thompson and McHerron’s project: “Techno-Mech-Katticus” earned them the prestigious Top Poster Award in the Robotics Challenge category. 

The NASA COSGC Robotics Challenge is just one example of the hands-on learning experiences available to students like McHerron and Thompson through the CMU/CU Boulder Engineering Partnership Program. On CMU’s campus, students are granted access to personable education and an affordable, esteemed engineering degree from CU Boulder. Along with the strong partnership with CU Boulder, CMU’s affiliation with NASA and the Colorado Space Grant Consortium unlocks even more doors for aspiring engineers in the Grand Valley and beyond.  

“I’d like to get my master’s in embedded engineering, and my goal is to work for NASA.” McHerron shared. “Class sizes are smaller which means the instructors are able to explain things differently, and they are more approachable. I am also challenged to master concepts on my own, which has been a good thing so far.”  

In February 2024, it was announced that CMU would receive a $3.7 million dollar grant supporting emerging research institutions. The NASA Science Mission Directorate Bridge Seed Program will allow CMU students to explore collaborative research that will result in meaningful relationships with the agency, including access to mentorships and employment opportunities within NASA’s workforce.