Schools on Mars
about the project
Our aim is to inspire the next generation of students into science and have lots and lots of fun whilst doing it!
The Schools on Mars project provides schools with the essential building blocks required to build a remote controlled exploration robot. Each school will have an induction session as well as dedicated undergraduate students from the University of Edinburgh to provide support and encouragement.
Each robot is faced with a series of tasks to be completed inside the NASA Mars Yard, situated more than 1 km underground at the Boulby Underground Laboratory. The students will be able to remotely control their robot from their school control room just like the Mars Rover.
Teams are encouraged to invent novel techniques to complete each task. If the parts required are not available, students are encouraged to design the part using CAD software which can then be 3D printed to then be fitted onto the robots.
If you have an interest in programming, hands on construction, robotics design or just love lego join the race and who knows one day you could design the next Mars Rover!
Our Goals
Teamwork
Gain collaborative team-work, team-building, time management and oral and written presentation skills in a diverse environment.
Robotics
Build a robot to explore a complexed terrain and complete a series of tasks designed to test your creation to its limits.
Space Exploration
Learn all about the challenges of space exploration and how to overcome them.
Programming
Learn to programme your robot to execute reset routines or control it live so you can react to changing conditions underground.
Science
The science behind it all, physics of the universe, planets and stars. Learn more about the physics of the final frontier.
Build A Mars Rover
Teams from ten of the most remotely-located schools across Scotland are being challenged to design, build and program Lego Mindstorm™ robots. The completed robots will then be taken to the NASA Mars Yard at the Boulby Mine, over a kilometre underground. Here, the robots become Martian rovers, challenged with tasks ranging from navigation across a simulated Martian landscape, to searches for sulphurous mineral deposits, to collection and return of rocks for analysis. Command of the the rovers is provided over the internet from a local Mission Control at each of the schools, remotely operating them just like NASA
Online Coding Challenge
If you are looking for a friendly way to get into the mysterious world of coding, then look no further than the online coding challenge. After 9 challenges you will be making games to play with your friends. Don’t believe us, come and check it out!
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