About us

The Adelaide Rover Team (ART) was founded in 2021 by students of Adelaide University following the inaugural Australian Rover Challenge (ARCh). Inspired by the opportunity to contribute to Australia’s growing role in the global space sector, the team was established to strengthen the University’s space research and development capabilities and to support international efforts toward humanity’s return to the Moon.

Our mission

Co-founded by Henry Mellor and Lachlan Holden, with support from the Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources (ATCSR), ART has grown into a recognised force in space robotics. Our mission is twofold:

  1. Design, build, and compete with world-class robotic rovers at the Australian Rover Challenge and beyond.

  2. Provide hands-on engineering and project management experience for university students, equipping them to enter space, defence, and advanced industries with real-world skills.

A robotic vehicle in a sandy outdoor area with solar panels and a fence in the background. The robot has visible wires, sensors, and wheels, and is labeled with logos including The University of Adelaide.

Our achievements

Since our inception, ART has achieved significant milestones:

  • Multiple awards at the Australian Rover Challenge, including Best New Team and Best Team Spirit.

  • Record-breaking performances, improving our overall score every year.

  • First Australian team to implement individually steerable wheels for advanced mobility.

  • Builders of some of the largest robotic arms, excavation tools, and resource-processing units in competition history.

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Our outreach

Beyond competition, ART actively engages in outreach to inspire future generations of engineers and scientists. From high school visits to community showcases, we promote STEMM to diverse audiences and strengthen ties with industry and academia.

  • Our commitment to innovation has also taken us onto the international stage. ART was one of only seven teams worldwide selected to compete in the NASA IEEE Telepresence Challenge, pushing the boundaries of remote robotics and teleoperation.

  • We are also enchanted to exhibit at the 76th International Astronautical Congress, 18th Australian Space Forum, Defence Careers Expo, LaunchBox by Fleet, Science Alive, Adelaide University’s Open Days, Ingenuity, and various other industry events.

For more details, please refer to the Events page.

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Our goals

Looking ahead, the Adelaide Rover Team is building toward a fully operational rover capable of excelling in all tasks of the Australian Rover Challenge, with the goal of achieving a Top 3–5 finish within the next three years. Alongside technical excellence, we aim to foster a vibrant community where members gain world-class experience, build lasting connections, and contribute to the future of space exploration.

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Meet the 2025/2026 Committee

  • Young man in a navy checkered suit, black shirt, maroon tie, with a boutonniere on his left lapel, smiling outdoors against a background of trees and a wooden fence.

    Kunal Kaura

    PROJECT DIRECTOR

    Studying a double degree, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours), Majoring in Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce, Majoring in Finance & Banking, I love space and wanting to be at the frontier of growing industry! As the Project Director of the Adelaide Rover Team, and as the previous Mechanical Lead, I love working on robotics (rovers especially!), and love reaching out to future and present students on the growing space and defence industry in South Australia!

    LinkedIn
  • A young man standing indoors in front of a large moon photograph, wearing a black sweatshirt with the AUSS logo.

    Cooper Whitbread

    TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

    I am pursuing my degree in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science at Adelaide University. I want to develop technology that explores unknown environments, places where it is too hard to send humans. I joined the Adelaide Rover Team in late 2022 driven by this desire to develop technology to explore the universe. I have since stepped up as Technical Director, so that I can support other students to follow their own dreams and learn critical skills required in the Space Industry. The technology we are developing, explores technological challenges we have never faced in Australia before! The students in our team, will lead the way to future where Australia has a presence in space.

    LinkedIn
  • A man with glasses and a beard, wearing a black hoodie, standing outdoors in sunlight.

    Martin Lambert

    SECRETARY

    Currently working in the field of space policy and completing a PhD in understanding where university students fit in Australia’s space industry, I have a focussed passion for democratising access to space! Aged well above the average university student, I have taken on the role of ‘Space Dad’, mentoring students to become the best they can be while guiding them towards opportunities to enter the space industry in whichever field and discipline they desire. I am also the Secretary of the Adelaide University Space Society.

    LinkedIn
  • A young man with dark hair, wearing a black jacket and black shirt, standing outdoors on a grassy area with trees and a modern building in the background.

    Denis Lulaj

    HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

    I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physics. Career-wise, I am interested in the research being done into quantum nanophotonics, the intersection between quantum optics and condensed matter.

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  • A young man with short blond hair and blue eyes, smiling, wearing a beige shirt, standing indoors with a blurred background of a bright room.

    Ben Kean

    FINANCE DIRECTOR

    I am a Mechanical Engineering and Physics student majoring in aerospace, theoretical physics and experimental physics. I am passionate about learning, and diving head first into the thriving Australian space industry. This cycle, I am honoured to be the Financial Director of the Adelaide Rover Team, and I seek to develop my skills at leading a finance team while budgeting and planning a relatively large scale project. I hope to one day specialise in rocket propulsion and control systems.

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  • A young man with glasses wearing a striped shirt and brown sweater vest standing outdoors with a building and promotional poster in the background.

    James Nguyen (Vinh Trung Nguyen)

    PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR

    I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing and Communications and International Business. Upon the completion of my degree, I plan on doing my Master of Research in Marketing. A fun fact about me is that I’m the only Committee member whose background is not STEMM-related. I first joined the Team in 2024 and became a Committee member right away. The opportunity working with the Team in a supportive and growth-oriented environment has taught me various technical and industry-focused skills in Marketing and Management.

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  • Close-up of a young person with short brown hair, blue eyes, wearing a white collared shirt and a thin gold chain, smiling at the camera.

    Cooper Hillen

    MECHANICAL LEAD

    I am currently studying a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Theoretical Physics. I have a keen interest in aeronautics and space vehicles. Designing and constructing a rover has consumed my life for the past year and has pushed me to improve both my technical and project management skills.

    LinkedIn
  • Young man smiling outdoors, wearing a navy polo shirt with a logo reading 'Adelaide Rover Team.'

    Jacob Faccin

    ELECTRICAL LEAD


    I am a 2nd year student of the Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronics) (Honours) with Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences. Passionate about all things electrical and electronic, I am supporting and pushing for innovation of the systems of ART’s rover as its Electrical Lead.

    LinkedIn
  • A young man smiling with glasses, wearing a Colorado-themed rugby shirt outdoors.

    Mitch Parrington

    SOFTWARE LEAD

    Technologies behind space-bound missions have always fascinated me, and has influenced my degree in Maths and Computer Science, and my eventual role as Software Lead on the Adelaide Rover Team. I hope to support the team in ensuring the successful development and improvement of systems on-board the rover.

    LinkedIn

The Adelaide Rover Team’s Honourable Mentions

  • A young man smiling and sitting at a desk in an office environment. He is wearing a navy polo shirt with red and white accents and has short brown hair. Behind him, there are computer monitors, a laptop, and office supplies, with a large poster on the wall featuring pills and medication.

    Henry Mellor

    CO-FOUNDER

    Robotics and space have both been long-time passions of mine, and the Australian Rover Challenge has provided an amazing opportunity to become involved with the cutting-edge technologies at the forefront of Lunar vehicle design. I co-led the team representing the University of Adelaide for the inaugural Challenge in March 2020, before officially co-founding the Adelaide Rover Team later that year. The experience with the Team has supported my own PhD research into Bio-Inspired Lunar Swarm Robotic Construction, assisting with the technical background required to develop these autonomous robotic platforms. Two things I love the most about the Team are the integration between the robotics disciplines and the constituent systems of our rover and the sharing of knowledge with passionate students. My years on the Team have taught me that there’s always something new to learn and get involved in the space sector.

    LinkedIn
  • A young man with dark hair, wearing a white shirt and navy blazer, standing indoors with a neutral expression.

    Madhav Aiyappa

    SPONSORSHIP LEAD

    Hi, my name is Madhav Aiyappa, and I am the Sponsorships Lead for the Adelaide Rover Team, I have been a part of the Finance Team in helping out with Sponsorships for the past year, and I find it rewarding that hard work we put into is noticed with the help and funding we get through the various companies with which we work.

    LinkedIn
  • A woman sitting at a table in a library, smiling at the camera. She has black hair, glasses, and is wearing a beige blazer over a black shirt.

    Ashley Cho (Yoonhye Cho)

    ANALYSIS LEAD

    Hi, I’m Ashley! I’m part of the Finance Team for the Australian Rover Challenge (ARCh) at the University of Adelaide. I specialise in preparing financial statements, creating and managing budgets, and ensuring our team’s finances run smoothly. I joined the Adelaide Rover Team in 2024, and have been serving as the Analysis Lead since 2025, taking on greater responsibilities to support our common missions. My goal is to help the team make informed financial decisions so we can focus on building an incredible rover and achieving success in the challenge.

    LinkedIn
  • A young woman with straight, shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a black striped shirt and a black top, standing outdoors in front of a building with glass windows.

    Mei Willis

    EVENTS LEAD

    I am studying Mechanical Engineering and Physics, looking to engage in new areas to broaden my knowledge. With the Events Team, I hope to further team member engagement, and strengthen the bonds of our rover community.

    LinkedIn
  • Smiling woman with curly hair standing outdoors with a blurred crowd behind her.

    Aieshewarrya Kapoor

    MARKETING LEAD

    Currently in my second year of a Psychology Advanced (Honours) degree, I draw on both my academic knowledge and hands-on experience to strengthen the Rover Team’s technical communication, project coordination, and outreach. In this competition cycle, I aim to amplify the team’s presence on the national stage, build strong industry and community partnerships, and create campaigns that showcase our technical achievements, collaborative spirit, and unique personality.

    LinkedIn

Join the team

Whether you are a student, academic, or industry professional, the Adelaide Rover Team is a platform where collaboration, innovation, and ambition drive us toward the next frontier. Join us now on our journey!

The Adelaide Rover Team members focusing on the tasks at the Australian Rover Challenge 2025.
A robotic vehicle on a sandy surface with a crowd sitting on bleachers in the background at an outdoor event.
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Contact us

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