Carleton University wins Canadian International Rover Challenge

The Carleton Planetary Robotics Team (CPRT) from Carleton University secured first place at the 2026 Canadian International Rover Challenge held in Alberta. The team achieved a total score of 382.19 points, outperforming the second-place Northeastern University Mars Rover Team from the United States, which scored 256.21 points, and the third-place Michigan Mars Rover Team with 233.08 points.

The competition tested various operational tasks, including autonomous navigation, mechanical design, and remote-control telemetry. Carleton’s high score was driven by strong performances in the Heist mission, RoverCooked, Refreshment Delivery, and Exploration Proposal modules. Other tasks included a “Snack Run” to retrieve items from a vending machine.

Team president Owen Davidson noted that the victory was a massive collective effort involving dozens of students across multiple disciplines, with some participants dedicating 20 to 40 hours per week during critical build phases. The project has been supported by Carleton’s Faculty of Engineering and Design.