Team Vicharaka Secures Strong Finish at International Rover Challenge (IRC) 2026 Finals

Team Vicharaka, the undergraduate rover team at IISc, achieved an impressive milestone at the International Rover Challenge (IRC) 2026 Finals, securing 15th place among 33 finalist teams from around the world. Participating in their first major international competition, the team demonstrated strong technical capability and resilience on a global stage.

The rover received special appreciation from the international jury for its robust mechanical design and an advanced 6 Degrees-of-Freedom (6 DOF) robotic arm, highlighting the engineering excellence of the IISc undergraduate community. Despite the challenges and pressures that come with debuting at an international event, the team showcased remarkable determination and proved the growing strength of student-led innovation at IISc.

Team Vicharaka expressed sincere gratitude to the Undergraduate Programme and the institute for their continued support. Energized by this experience, the team is now focused on further advancing their design and aims to elevate IISc’s presence even higher in future international competitions.