What are the key topics/ technologies your group works on?
AGH Space Systems focuses on:
- Planetary rovers (e.g., Kalman): modular design, 6‑DoF manipulator, depth and analog cameras, autonomous navigation, soil sample analysis systems
- Rocketry: hybrid and liquid‑propellant rockets (like Turbulence), including engine hot‑fire tests, telemetry, and recovery systems
- Stratospheric balloons & payloads: high‑altitude (~33 km) experiments involving radiation sensors, biological payloads, electronics
- GraviTE: a payload project developing an autonomous bioreactor to study bone-cell growth on biomaterial scaffolds in microgravity—aimed at ISS deployment.
What are you currently working on?
- Kalman rover: currently being optimised for autonomy, navigation, manipulation, and sample analysis—recently showcased at Australian Rover Challenge 2025
- Turbulence rocket: conducting engine hot‑fire tests; aiming for its first liquid‑fueled launch in the summer
- Stratospheric payloads: new missions under development—especially radiation monitoring and biological experiments.
- GraviTE: in-depth engineering of an autonomous cell‑culture bioreactor, currently supported by the “Direction: Space” grant and selected as one of three winners—paving the way for ISS flight
Have you received any awards, distinctions, or completed notable projects?
AGH Space Systems has earned an impressive collection of awards and distinctions across multiple categories. Among them:
- University Rover Challenge 2024 (USA) – 1st place, the first European team ever to win
- Australian Rover Challenge 2025 – 1st place
- International Rover Challenge 2023 (India) – 1st place
- Canadian International Rover Challenge 2023 – 1st place
- European Rover Challenge – Champions in 2022 and 2023, with multiple top awards; also achieved Best Navigation Performance. In 2024, placed 2nd overall .
- Spaceport America Cup – 3rd place in 2022 and 4th in 2023
- GraviTE (Direction: Space 2024) – one of the top three student projects in Poland, developed for future mission to ISS; microgrant winner; study tour to ESA and CERN
