Meet the builders behind Trailblazer, Nigeria's first Mars rover prototype
By Ajiboye Favour · · AI & Tech
Mars is a long way from Lagos, but in 2024, a group of engineering students at Pan-Atlantic University began working on a machine that was designed to tackle…
Mars is a long way from Lagos, but in 2024, a group of engineering students at Pan-Atlantic University began working on a machine that was designed to tackle some of the same problems a rover will face on another planet. These included moving across difficult terrain, collecting samples, taking images and gathering information from its surroundings. They called it Trailblazer. The project was developed by a team of 14 members from PAU’s School of Science and Technology and was taken to the African Rover Challenge in October 2024, where it came second place.Samuel Oyefusi, a member of the team, said he had once wanted to study Aerospace Engineering but felt restricted by what he knew was available around him. He and his teammates started considering what they could contribute to the African space industry themselves. They were interested in how technologies developed for space exploration could be applied on Earth, particularly in areas such as security, agriculture, food security and weather forecasting. For Ibukun Afolabi, another member of the team, there was also an interest in developing something of their own instead of reproducing works that already exist.
The rover was built around a rocker-bogie suspension system, a design used on NASA’s Mars rovers to help vehicles travel over uneven terrain. They combined this with a damping system to improve its ability to move through rocks and other uneven surfaces. When one wheel goes over an obstacle, the suspension allows the other wheels to adjust with it, helping it stay balanced and keeping its wheels on the ground.
LiDAR works similarly to using a laser to measure how far away things are. By sending out laser pulses and measuring how long they take to return, the rover can determine the distance to objects around it and build a picture of the terrain.
Other systems were integrated into Trailblazer, including three cameras, a robotic scoop arm, a solar-powered docking station and wireless control. The rover also used artificial intelligence for mineral and image analysis. The scoop arm was meant for collecting samples and placing them into test tubes, while the team also planned to collect photographs and analyse rock and soil samples through a website they developed.
One of the challenges was deciding what materials could actually be used to build the project. The team told Space in Africa that material selection required market research because the most fitting material in theory was not the most practical option for their project. They selected acrylic and aluminium sheets, which they said provided a balance between weight and structural strength. Aluminium was also readily available in local markets, which helped to keep the project within it available resources. This was an important part of the process because they were not working within an unlimited supply of aerospace materials.
By the time BusinessDay spoke to Oyefusi and Afolabi in October 2024, the team had set up a workshop for the project but was still in need of financial support. The students were looking for funding and appealing to organisations for partnerships and assistance with transportation and other logistics.
Trailblazer was developed for the African Rover Challenge, which uses a simulated Mars environment rather than requiring teams to build machines for actual Martian conditions. The competition required the participating teams to develop small mobile rover prototypes with wireless control and an independent power source. The teams were also required to explain their project and the strategy that was used, followed by a physical demonstration of how the rovers navigated an obstacle course that the technology might encounter. Trailblazer came second and received a ZAR 2,000 price.
PAU later highlighted the project in its 2023/2024 annual report and described Trailblazer as the first Mars rover prototype developed in Nigeria and Africa, listing the 14 students who worked on it.
The team identified possible ways the project could be applied, especially in agricultural soil analysis, mining and resource exploration, oil and gas surveying, environmental monitoring, disaster response, and terrain assessment. In agriculture, for example, a rover capable of collecting soil samples could be used to analyse mineral content and nutrient levels, and provide information that could help with making decisions relating to soil management.
The project was also carried beyond the competition. The European Rover Challenge’s current team profile lists Blazers from Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria, with Trailblazer still identified as the rover name. The team has since grown to 24 members and describes its work around robotics and space technology. It also says it aims to develop practical robotic systems for extreme environments while creating opportunities for more African students to participate in robotics.
The process of designing and building allowed the students to work on a complex system and consider how similar technologies could be used for problems closer to home. It also showed how students working with locally available resources can participate in the development of space-related technology.