Xplore Rover Challenge
The Education Pole of EPFL Xplore. Our main goal: turning students into ERC engineers — from no prior knowledge to makers.
Our Mission
The Xplore Rover Challenge (XRC) is a student-centered robotics competition designed to introduce bachelor-level students to the world of robotics, teamwork, and engineering through the creation of a mini-rover. Organized by Xplore, XRC challenges participants to design, build, and program a rover capable of completing a variety of technical tasks in a collaborative and competitive environment.
The Road to XRC
Kick-off & Workshops
Intro to mechanical construction, soldering, Linux, and robotics concepts like differentials, PCB, and ROS2 with Docker
IDR (Initial Design Review)
Early project planning, team role distribution, and validation of concept understanding
PDR (Preliminary Design Review)
Mechanical design progress, component choices, and first prototypes of a test bench
CDR (Critical Design Review)
Full rover architecture validation, integration planning, risk analysis ⚠️, and prototype test bench demo.
Final Sprint
Debugging, testing, and refining. Getting ready for the big day
🚀 XRC Final Event
Competition day: the ultimate test of your rover!
📍 Where It Happens
The XRC final takes place across various iconic EPFL venues such as:
This event is open to students, families, and the public, aiming to spark curiosity in robotics.
📸 Memories from XRC
