2026-2027 Projects

The Rice Robotics Club is excited to share what we’ve been working on for the past year! We are made up of four different teams: Battlebots, Research and Development (R&D), Mentorship, and Lunar Rover. Below is a brief overview of our most recent projects and accomplishments for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Battlebots robot is built in the shape of a pentagon with a blade attached to the end of it

Battlebots: Pancake

The BattleBots team is dedicated to designing innovative and robust combat robotics. The Battlebots team designed a 1-pound robot named Pancake, which uses a steel horn to crush opponents. We engage in comprehensive research to inform our designs and strategies, participating in regional and national competitions like the NASA Moon2Mars competition and the Cougar Cup. Currently, our focus is on a nimble 1-pound bot, with a concentration on creating a knowledge base for larger and stronger designs in the future.

The research and development team's jumping CatBot leg. The robot is primarily 3D printed, with the testing stand and top leg (back) being white and the spring enclosure and bottom leg (front) being orange.

R&D: Catbot Jumping Leg

Our R&D team is passionate about creating robots that not only solve complex problems but also inspire wonder. Last year, we developed a jumping robot leg modeled after a cat to jump 6 inches off the ground, presenting our final product at the annual OEDK Engineering Showcase. Next year, we are excited to continue this project by building a full quadruped robot. By blending curiosity, innovation, and advanced technology, our R&D team aims to solve real world robotics problems.

Lunar Rover

Sponsored by the Unmanned Exploration Laboratory, we are developing a cutting-edge machine learning algorithm and sample collection device to enable our rovers to autonomously navigate and analyze the lunar surface, specifically searching for water in lunar lava tubes. This year, Lunar Rover is focusing on the upcoming University Rover Competition in Utah!

Learn More

Find our more about each of our teams by clicking below:

Battlebots

Research and Development (R&D)

Rover