We write the record as we build
Documentation placed 4th of 25 at ERC 2026. The design record is kept alongside the hardware and handed from one cohort to the next.
HSM ARIES / CHAIR OF DRIVE, AUTOMATION, AND ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGIESBuilt by students.
Built by students.
Proven in Kraków.
The space robotics initiative of the Chair of Drive, Automation, and Robotics Technologies at Hochschule Schmalkalden—engineering planetary systems from first sketch to field test.
29Crew + advisors
08Departments
17/124Place / registered teams · 25 finalists
01 / THE MISSION
One rover has competed.
The next is being designed.
HSM Aries brings mechanical engineering, electronics, autonomous software, scientific payloads and mission operations into one space robotics initiative.
LEAP-One is Project 01 in the LEAP series. From 124 registered teams, 25 qualified for the ERC 2026 finals in Kraków. We finished 17th with 1492.25 points on our first attempt, without major sponsorship. With gratitude to the partners who supported us, we see this as the beginning. Leap-2, Project 02, takes that experience forward.
LEAP series, from the first rover to the next.
- Project 01LEAP-One
First rover of the LEAP series.
- ERC 2026 finals4–6 Sep
AGH Kraków, 25 finalist teams.
- Place / registered teams17/124
25 finalists · 1492.25 of 3000 points.
- Documentation4th
364.25 of 400 points.
- Navigation droning6th
265 of 300 points.
- Next roverLeap-2
Project 02 · in development
Explore Leap-2
SEMINAR ROOM / SCHMALKALDENHow we move
from idea to terrain.
We iterate in small steps
CAD, finite-element checks, firmware bench validation and field trials each have to pass before the next stage starts.
We keep it simple
Modular architecture survives harsh terrain. Swappable payloads and robust linkages outlast clever complexity.
One team across eight departments
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from mechanical, electrical, software and science backgrounds share one lab, one rover and one deadline.
Discover
Start with the mission, terrain and science objective.
Design
Model every interface across mechanical, electrical and software teams.
Build
Machine, print, wire and integrate in the Schmalkalden lab.
Prove
Test in the field, learn from failure and return stronger.
04 / DEPARTMENT ARCHITECTURE
Eight disciplines.
Zero silos.
Each department owned one subsystem of LEAP-One and now carries that architecture into Leap-2. The cards list what was built, who leads it, and link to the people behind it.
LEAD / Brahama Teja Naroju
Mechanical & Drivetrain
Aluminium 3.3535 chassis architecture, differential rocker-bogie suspension, and six custom TPU wheels driven by Botwheel BLDC motors and ODrive S1 controllers.
6WD Independent BLDCDifferential Leveling Bar35° Gradeability
View team 
LEAD / Danny Sneham & Brahama Teja Naroju
Drill & Manipulator
Igus ReBeL 6-DoF manipulation with a modular 3D-printed gripper, paired with a 530 mm coaxial auger system for deep regolith collection.
2 kg Arm Payload≥300 mm Drill DepthModular End-Effector
View team 
LEAD / Omar Abdelrady
Software & Autonomy
ROS 2 on Ubuntu 24.04 combines RealSense depth sensing, EKF localization, Pure Pursuit path following and Dynamic Window Approach obstacle avoidance.
ROS 2 + EKFRealSense D435iDWA Obstacle Avoidance
View team 
LEAD / Ayan Akbar Ali
Electrical & Power Systems
A 25.6 V, 60 Ah LiFePO₄ main bus from four 12.8 V modules powers centralized distribution, regulated rails, CAN-connected motor control and the safety system.
2S2P LiFePO₄ · 1.5 kWhCAN Bus TelemetrySSR E-Stop
View team 
LEAD / Rahul Khandait
Astroflight (AQUILA UAV)
Developed in collaboration with HSM Zenith, HSM’s aeronautical division: an autonomous reconnaissance UAV for aerial orthomosaic mapping, terrain hazard scanning, and cooperative rover-drone telemetry downlinks.
VTOL / Fixed Wing4K Aerial SurveyTelemetry Relay
View team 
LEAD / Anantha Pathmanabhan
Scientific Payload
Environmental, gas, pH, turbidity, Raman and microscopy instruments pair with load-cell sample verification and a peristaltic liquid-handling system.
Raman SpectrometryHX711 Load CellspH + Gas Analysis
View team 
LEAD / Vighnesh Madhav Deshmukh
Communications & RF
The primary Ubiquiti AirMAX TDMA link carries telemetry and 720p video, while 2.4 GHz ExpressLRS provides an independent command and backup path.
5 GHz AirMAX TDMA400 m Verified Link2.4 GHz ELRS Backup
View team 
LEAD / Reeba Biju
Mission Resources & Outreach
Coordinates sponsor relations with industry partners (Boehm Group, SICK), public exhibitions at Space Night, media documentation, and logistics.
SponsorshipsSpace Night ExhibitionsOperations
View team 05 / COMMAND CREW
The people coordinating the mission.
Meet all team members
01
Harsha Vardhan Raju Gottimukkala
Team Lead LEAP-One
02
Brahama Teja Naroju
Mechanical Lead & Manipulator Lead
03Ayan Akbar Ali
Electrical Department Lead
04Omar Abdelrady
Software Department Lead
05Vighnesh Madhav Deshmukh
Communication Lead & Software Engineer
50.7147° N / 10.4657° E06 / OUR UNIVERSITY HOMEBuilt in
Built in
Schmalkalden.
HSM Aries is rooted in the Chair of Drive, Automation, and Robotics Technologies at Hochschule Schmalkalden, bringing students and disciplines together in a shared robotics lab.
Visit Hochschule Schmalkalden07 / ADVISORY ORBIT
Experience around
the student mission.
Academic faculty, university mentors and industry experts help the crew turn ambitious ideas into robust engineering.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Schrödel
Faculty Advisor
Alexander Kolbai
Industry Advisor
Swaraj Tendulkar
University Mentor
K.K.Achari
Industry Mentor
Venkata Prashanth Uppalapati
University Mentor
Niranjan Ramesha
University Mentor
Nikhil Meduri
University Mentor
08 / INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
From CAD to five‑axis reality.
The team works directly with industry leaders such as Boehm Group GmbH, pitching mechanical architecture and learning how rover subsystems move from student design to precision manufacturing.
PARTNERS / INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIC
