University of Western Australia
Western Australian Rover Project
A student engineering team at UWA designing and building planetary rovers for the Australian Rover Challenge.
Who we are
About WARP
Who We Are
WARP is a multidisciplinary student engineering team at the University of Western Australia comprising 40+ passionate engineers and makers. We design, build, and test fully custom planetary rovers to compete in the Australian Rover Challenge.
What We Do
We tackle complex engineering challenges in mechanical design, electrical systems, autonomous navigation, and software development. Our rovers are built from scratch each year, incorporating the latest innovations in robotics and autonomous systems.
Our Mission
To design and build cutting-edge planetary rovers while developing the next generation of engineers. We push the boundaries of what is possible in student robotics and create real-world solutions to space exploration challenges.
Supported by the UWA School of Engineering and the International Space Centre (ISC).
40+
Team members
4
Engineering disciplines
2
National competitions
1st
WA team at ARCh
Where we're headed
Our Goals
WARP is more than a competition team — we are building something lasting at UWA and putting Western Australia on the global space technology map.
R&D Hub for Space Technologies
We aim to establish WARP as UWA's leading R&D hub for space robotics and automation — developing next-generation autonomous systems, robotic manipulators, and machine-vision pipelines that advance the frontier of how robots operate in unstructured, off-world environments.
International Competition
Our sights are set on the global stage. We are building toward competing at the University Rover Challenge (URC) in the United States — one of the most prestigious student rover competitions in the world — while continuing to podium at the Australian Rover Challenge.
Engineering Excellence
We commit to building rovers that push the limits of what student teams can achieve — full custom mechanical assemblies, bespoke electronics, and sophisticated autonomy software — while mentoring the next cohort of engineers through hands-on, mission-critical work.
The rover
Engineered Across Six Systems
Each rover integrates work from every discipline on the team, from mechanical design through to autonomy software.
Autonomous Navigation
Advanced GPS, SLAM, and computer vision systems for autonomous exploration and obstacle detection.
Robotic Manipulator
Precision 5-axis arm for sample collection, soil analysis, and construction tasks.
Science Payload
Integrated sensors and instruments for geological analysis and environmental data collection.
Power Systems
High-capacity battery systems and power distribution for extended mission duration.
Drivetrain & Chassis
All-terrain suspension and specialized wheels for extreme terrain traversal.
Teleoperations
Real-time control systems and telemetry for remote rover operation and monitoring.
The competition
The Australian Rover Challenge
Held annually at the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus, the Australian Rover Challenge (ARCh) is an engineering competition where university teams complete simulated space exploration missions on a lunar test field.
ARCh requires rovers that can handle extreme terrain, uncertain conditions, and complex tasks. WARP is proud to be the first Western Australian team to compete, and we return every year aiming higher.
01
Post-Landing
Assess and document the landing site, analyze geological conditions, and transmit findings.
02
Space Resources
Locate and extract valuable resources, test extraction equipment, and verify resource viability.
03
Excavation & Construction
Perform precision excavation, move materials, and construct structures on the terrain.
04
Autonomous Navigation
Navigate autonomously to GPS waypoints, map the area, and complete tasks without remote control.
Our journey
Past Achievements
From our inaugural competition to our goals for next season.
Breaking New Ground
15th of 24 teams
First WA team to compete
Our inaugural competition saw WARP make history as the first Western Australian team to compete at ARCh. Despite being newcomers, we delivered a fully functional rover and proved our engineering capabilities on the national stage.
Building Momentum
14th of 30 teams
Retained working rover platform
With a growing team and refined systems, we improved our standings while competing against significantly more teams. We successfully retained and upgraded our rover platform, setting the foundation for future innovations.
Aiming Higher
Top 10 goal
Full autonomy & modular redesign
Our vision is ambitious: break into the top 10, achieve full autonomous operation without remote control, and implement a completely modular rover design for enhanced adaptability and performance.
Our partners
Our Sponsors
We're grateful to the partners who make WARP possible.
UWA
ISC
DOF Subsea
TechWorks
Altronics
Ready to partner with us?
Support the future of Australian robotics and space exploration while connecting your brand with UWA's top engineering students.
Partner with us
Sponsorship Tiers
Multiple ways to support cutting-edge student robotics.
Platinum
$10,000+
- Logo on rover chassis
- Logo on website (large)
- Naming rights to rover component
- Speaking opportunity at events
- VIP competition day access
- Annual partnership agreement
- Quarterly progress reports
Gold
$5,000 – $9,999
- Logo on rover chassis
- Logo on website (medium)
- Recognition at events
- Competition day access
- Progress reports
- Social media features
Silver
$2,000 – $4,999
- Logo on website
- Recognition at events
- Social media features
- Newsletter mentions
Bronze
$500 – $1,999
- Website mention
- Social media feature
- Thank you note
Supporter
Under $500 or in-kind
- Recognition as supporter
- Social media mention
- Thank you note
Have a custom sponsorship idea? We'd love to create a partnership that fits your needs.
The people
Meet the Team
The leads driving WARP forward, backed by a team of 40+ students across every engineering discipline.
Edwin Mathew
Project Lead
Prashan Wijesinghe
Electronics Lead
Zac Cole
Drivetrain Lead
Armaan Chawla
Science Lead
Aaron Teo
Manipulator Lead
Alex Valiukas
Autonomy Lead
Jordan Lanagan
Communications Lead
Jia Xin
Marketing Lead
Join us
We're Recruiting
Are you passionate about engineering, robotics, and space exploration? WARP is always looking for talented students across all disciplines to join our team.
Whether you're interested in mechanical design, electronics, software development, autonomy, or project management — there's a place for you. Experience isn't required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.
Work on cutting-edge planetary rover technology
Collaborate with 40+ passionate engineers
Compete at the national Australian Rover Challenge
Develop real-world engineering skills
Get Started
Join our Discord community to learn more, ask questions, and connect with the team. We welcome students of all skill levels and disciplines.
Join our DiscordQuestions? Reach out to us at admin@rover.uwarobotics.com.au