Project Scorpio
Project Scorpio is a Mars rover project taking part in the Rover Challenge series, where it competes with teams from all over the world. We have had a lot of success so far, especially during the Anatolian Rover Challenge and the Australian Rover Challenge.
Scorpio Infinity
Scorpio Infinity is a rover created from a combination of proven solutions and innovative ideas resulting from our experience during competitions. Like previous versions, the design is modular, and the suspension was inspired by the rocker-boogie system.
The biggest modifications compared to Scorpio 7 occurred in the wheels: BLDC motors with a planetary gear designed by us were changed, and the tires were printed from flexible filament. Scorpio Infinity has been designed to enable faster and easier access to science modules and electronics, which is especially important during competitions.
Scorpio Infinity
Scorpio Infinity is a rover created from a combination of proven solutions and innovative ideas resulting from our experience during competitions. Like previous versions, the design is modular, and the suspension was inspired by the rocker-boogie system.
The biggest modifications compared to Scorpio 7 occurred in the wheels: BLDC motors with a planetary gear designed by us were changed, and the tires were printed from flexible filament. Scorpio Infinity has been designed to enable faster and easier access to science modules and electronics, which is especially important during competitions.
Scorpio 7
The project of the seventh generation of the KN OFF-ROAD Mars Rover. This iteration of the project focused on extending the robot’s use to research activities. We designed a new differential mechanism, which allowed us to reduce weight and increase suspension stiffness. The rover has a modular structure, and the driving module was inspired by the rocker-boogie system, which was adapted to our needs.
The rover’s suspension is based on 2 wishbones coupled with a differential mechanism. The suspension system uses not only proven solutions (such as Cordura wheels filled with polyurethane foam), but also many innovative solutions, such as rims made using 3D printing technology or the suspension mechanism itself. High-quality materials were used to construct the rover, such as polyamide and aluminum used in the space industry, and carbon fiber. The rover’s body served as a shield for its electronic systems. It houses all the systems needed to control its operation.
Scorpio 7
The project of the seventh generation of the KN OFF-ROAD Mars Rover. This iteration of the project focused on extending the robot’s use to research activities. We designed a new differential mechanism, which allowed us to reduce weight and increase suspension stiffness. The rover has a modular structure, and the driving module was inspired by the rocker-boogie system, which was adapted to our needs.
The rover’s suspension is based on 2 wishbones coupled with a differential mechanism. The suspension system uses not only proven solutions (such as Cordura wheels filled with polyurethane foam), but also many innovative solutions, such as rims made using 3D printing technology or the suspension mechanism itself. High-quality materials were used to construct the rover, such as polyamide and aluminum used in the space industry, and carbon fiber. The rover’s body served as a shield for its electronic systems. It houses all the systems needed to control its operation.
Scorpio X
The rover has a modular structure, and the structure is made mostly of aircraft aluminum and polyamide – light materials with very good mechanical properties. The driving module was inspired by the rocker-boogie system, which was adapted to our needs.
To ensure good grip, the tires are made of military material – Cordura, which we filled with Styrofoam granules, which increases stability and shock absorption. This is our original solution that works great. Our rover has four-wheel drive, and each wheel is powered by a separate BLDC motor with a power of 250 watts. Thanks to this, we provided enough power to overcome even the most demanding terrain and obstacles such as potholes and steep climbs.
Scorpio X
The rover has a modular structure, and the structure is made mostly of aircraft aluminum and polyamide – light materials with very good mechanical properties. The driving module was inspired by the rocker-boogie system, which was adapted to our needs.
To ensure good grip, the tires are made of military material – Cordura, which we filled with Styrofoam granules, which increases stability and shock absorption. This is our original solution that works great. Our rover has four-wheel drive, and each wheel is powered by a separate BLDC motor with a power of 250 watts. Thanks to this, we provided enough power to overcome even the most demanding terrain and obstacles such as potholes and steep climbs.
Our older rovers
Although at first glance the design does not differ much from the Scorpio IV, significant improvements have been introduced. To make it easier to maneuver the mechanical arm, we added the last, sixth degree of freedom – rotation in the base. We also took care of the power supply and created a Power Manager that monitors the battery status.
In addition, we strengthened the wishbones and designed a new, more spacious frame for the electronics. A completely new drill for research tasks was also created. All this was accomplished while maintaining the modularity of the rover.
It was presented at the European Rover Challenge in 2014 and is completely different from its predecessors.
The basic assumption on which the new design is based is its complete modularity. It allows for independent design and testing of individual elements.
We replaced the independent suspension with a modified version of the rocker-boogie suspension known from NASA rovers. The modifications consisted in adapting the structure to higher speeds and using only four wheels. The resulting suspension works on a similar principle to Curiosity’s system, but is able to operate effectively at higher speeds.
Scorpio III is a development of the previous design and took part in the University Rover Challenge 2013. The vehicle is articulated and has a six-wheel drive. It is equipped with a multifunctional manipulator with six degrees of freedom and a vision and measurement system.
Compared to Scorpio II, the smallest changes were introduced in the chassis and frame.
Our efforts focused on reducing the weight of these components. The suspension was adjusted to better work with the rover, which was over 5 kg lighter. A completely new manipulator has been added – more precise and lighter than the previous version. The new vehicle control electronics can also handle more sensors at the same time.
The innovations that appeared in Scorpio II concerned primarily a completely new chassis. An independent six-wheel suspension based on double wishbones was created – presented at the University Rover Challenge 2012.
The robot’s off-road capabilities have also been increased. The focus was on reducing the weight of the arm while maintaining its size. The center of gravity has also changed and has been lowered by moving the drive motors to the bottom of the kinematic chain, which has resulted in increased vehicle stability and arm lifting capacity.
Scorpio I is our first design, created in 2011. It was a remotely controlled rover with a multifunctional manipulator with a vision system and a remote measurement system.
The team’s great success was winning 4th place at the University Rover Challenge 2011 in Hanksville, United States. At the same time, it was our debut performance in the competition.
The achievement of the Scorpio team was also appreciated by the then Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, who, right after the team’s arrival in the country, invited the entire team to a meeting.
Our different projects
Scorpio Data-driven farming
Bayer Digital Campus Challenge 2023 – This year, 813 participants from 61 different countries formed 290 teams that presented ideas in four categories, taking digitalization at Bayer to the next stage. Bayer experts selected four teams to present their ideas during the grand finale. During the event, each team had 10 minutes to present their project and five minutes for a question and answer session with a mentor.
Scorpio Data-driven farming
Bayer Digital Campus Challenge 2023 – This year, 813 participants from 61 different countries formed 290 teams that presented ideas in four categories, taking digitalization at Bayer to the next stage. Bayer experts selected four teams to present their ideas during the grand finale. During the event, each team had 10 minutes to present their project and five minutes for a question and answer session with a mentor.
Martial Colony Twardowsky
Twardowsky is a Martian colony that we designed together with the startup Space is More. The colony was designed for 1,000 people and uses a number of innovative solutions – such as a thorium reactor and a biorefinery. Twardowsky took second place in the Mars Colony Prize competition, organized by, among others, NASA.
Martial Colony Twardowsky
Twardowsky is a Martian colony that we designed together with the startup Space is More. The colony was designed for 1,000 people and uses a number of innovative solutions – such as a thorium reactor and a biorefinery. Twardowsky took second place in the Mars Colony Prize competition, organized by, among others, NASA.
Project Eagle
Project Eagle is a lander concept capable of delivering 10 tons of cargo to the surface of Mars. It was designed for the international Red Eagle competition, organized by The Mars Society and NASA. We managed to take second place in the competition out of 15 teams from around the world. More than 20 people worked on the project, and we received substantive support from many leading companies in the space industry, such as ESA and CERN.
Project Eagle
Project Eagle is a lander concept capable of delivering 10 tons of cargo to the surface of Mars. It was designed for the international Red Eagle competition, organized by The Mars Society and NASA. We managed to take second place in the competition out of 15 teams from around the world. More than 20 people worked on the project, and we received substantive support from many leading companies in the space industry, such as ESA and CERN.
Space Day
One of our main goals is to promote space engineering in Poland, which is why we organized Space Day – an all-day event dedicated to the space industry. Due to the enormous interest in this initiative, three editions have already been held. Lectures by representatives of various environments (companies, institutions, start-ups and scientific groups), demonstrations of Mars rovers and project exhibitions are just some of the attractions related to this initiative.
Space Day
One of our main goals is to promote space engineering in Poland, which is why we organized Space Day – an all-day event dedicated to the space industry. Due to the enormous interest in this initiative, three editions have already been held. Lectures by representatives of various environments (companies, institutions, start-ups and scientific groups), demonstrations of Mars rovers and project exhibitions are just some of the attractions related to this initiative.
SolidWorks Championship
Modeling is the basis of our activity, which is why we organized the SolidWorks Championship for all lovers of working with 3D models. The competition took place as part of the Technical Studies at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. The partner of the event was DPS Software Polska, which is responsible for the distribution of Solidworks software. Participants could compete in the following categories – Effective Modeling, Master Documentation, Animator and 3D Master. The tasks were not the easiest, but this did not discourage the students from accepting the challenge.
SolidWorks Championship
Modeling is the basis of our activity, which is why we organized the SolidWorks Championship for all lovers of working with 3D models. The competition took place as part of the Technical Studies at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. The partner of the event was DPS Software Polska, which is responsible for the distribution of Solidworks software. Participants could compete in the following categories – Effective Modeling, Master Documentation, Animator and 3D Master. The tasks were not the easiest, but this did not discourage the students from accepting the challenge.
