The UIU Mars Rover Team of United International University has secured third place globally and first place in Asia at the University Rover Challenge 2026, marking a historic achievement for Bangladesh and the region.
Organised by The Mars Society, USA, the competition was held from May 27 to 30 at the Mars Desert Research Station in Hanksville, Utah, said a press release.
Competing against leading engineering universities from around the world, the UIU team earned 400.44 points to finish third overall. The Missouri University of Science and Technology Mars Rover Design Team of the United States became champion with 469.57 points, while Australia’s Monash Nova Rover secured second place with 412.41 points.
The Bangladeshi team also received the Best Autonomous System Recognition for its outstanding performance in autonomous navigation, perception and decision-making.
One hundred and sixteen university teams initially entered the competition, with only 38 teams from 15 countries qualifying for the final round.
According to UIU, the achievement makes the UIU Mars Rover Team the first Asian team in the 20-year history of the on-site URC competition to secure a podium finish. The team has also maintained its position as Asia’s top-ranked rover team for five consecutive years since 2022.
